On a high

Some time back I had a one-on-one with my manager. That is corporate jargon for timepass talk with your boss. She asked me a question, 'Are you motivated enough?' My answer at that time was 'I only believe in self motivation and I think I am doing good job there'

Though I gave that answer without really giving it some thought, I later started contemplating on that answer. I have always believed that self motivation is the most effective form of motivation. You could argue that rewards or recognitions for your work, a few encouraging words from seniors and a pat on the back always help. But these happen occassionally. There needs to be driving factor for you to work and that can come only from you.

So how do we keep ourselves motivated. Some simple things can help. Dont complain about your work. I have noticed that when people are asked the question, ' Are you happy with your job?', 7 out of 10 people give a negative answer. And that answer itself can demotivate you. Its a job you have chosen. So there is no point complaining. Ask yourself the the same question and if the answer is negative, then it clearly indicates that you need a change. Continuing in the job will only make you more miserable.

The moment you think you have stepped into a comfort zone, step back. The comfort zone is one area that will keep you happy for a while but then frustration takes its toll. It is the most dangerous regions to be in. You will not be challenging youself since you are working on something that you are an expert in. That is the time to step back, introspect on what you can learn new and move to more challenging domains.

Learn to say 'I dont know'. We have this tendency to please everyone and that leads us to accept undoable tasks. This is a top demotivater. Unless we accept that we dont know something we will always overstrain ourselves. But the most important thing is to add a sentence to 'I dont know' and that is ' I will learn/find out.' This will increase the respect that the manager has on you and will boost your confidence level.

Your job should not be the only thing that you wake up in the morning for. I have always talked about time management and work-life balance. Indulge in some activites other than work. Then work becomes only a part of your day, the pressure eases and your job automatically becomes more enjoyable. Pursuing a hobby that takes your mind off your job is a refreshing change.

Some may not agree with this, but I think an office crush always helps. I am not saying develop a crush on someone at work. But keep your options open. Your enthusiasm to come to work everyday automatically goes high. You will have something to look forward to when you come to office every morning. But keep it professional and dont cross the line. Believe me, it helps.

Now that I have motivated myself by writing this post, let me get back to work. And I dont have an office crush.