Introduction to Motivation
Everything in excess can prove harmful to you except Motivation. As per Vikas, Motivation is the key impetus that keeps us going to achieve the desired outcome. It plays an important role in attaining personal and professional success. Though science has yet to measure motivation in units, we often experience its highs and lows. Phases of high motivation catalyze our progress towards goals and phases of low put brakes on it. Let us understand what good motivation can do and how to remain motivated.
Benefits of staying motivated
A few proven benefits of motivation can be found below:
- Increased Sales: Motivation drives you to approach potential customers, make more calls, and close deals, ultimately leading to increased sales.
- Resilience: Motivated salespeople are more resilient in facing rejection and setbacks, enabling them to bounce back and continue pursuing opportunities.
- Customer Relationships: Motivation can lead to better customer relationships, as enthusiastic and engaged salespeople tend to provide superior service.
- Productivity: Motivation enhances your work ethic and productivity, allowing you to accomplish more in less time.
- Confidence: Motivated salespeople are often more confident, which can help in negotiations and presentations.
- Career Growth: Demonstrating motivation can lead to career advancement and increased earning potential in sales.
- Personal Fulfillment: Staying motivated can lead to a sense of personal fulfilment and satisfaction in your role.
- Adaptability: Motivated salespeople are more likely to adapt to changing market conditions and customer preferences, staying competitive.
- Team Morale: Your motivation can inspire and positively influence your sales team, contributing to a positive work environment.
- Financial Rewards: Higher sales and commissions are often the direct result of sustained motivation in sales.
Boost your motivation with these 16 strategies!
Like any fast-draining battery, motivation can also drain down hence it is important to take necessary measures to remain motivated all the time. Following activities can help you remain motivated.
- Set goal: As per Vikas, personal or professional goals are the biggest source of self-motivation as the desire to achieve them can drive you to take all the necessary steps. Your goals give you direction to head towards, clarity in action, and create a sense of accountability.
- Stay away from Negativity: Negative news and constant interaction with pessimistic people can increase your stress, instil a sense of fear and uncertainties, drain you emotionally, and erode your hope. All these factors eventually lead to demotivation. Though it is difficult to stay away completely from these negativities, one should try to avoid, limit, and ignore negative news and pessimistic people as much as you can and balance your exposure to negative events with positive and inspiring content.
- Read self-help books: Books are available to you 24 hours a day, unlike people hence turning to self-help books to get your dose of motivation is a good idea. Many books share the author’s personal stories and anecdotes that you can relate to your current situation and will inspire you to take positive measures in your life. Books can also build your knowledge of the subject of your interest. However, it’s important to choose self-help books carefully, as not all of them are equally effective or tailor-made for everyone. Look for books that resonate with your specific goals and interests, and be open to applying their teachings to your life. My all-time favourite book on motivation is “Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do” by Dr. Robert Schuller.
- Watch YouTube channels: Many YouTube channels feature motivational speeches, success stories, and personal development content that can inspire and uplift viewers. Some of the popular YouTube channels in India are Joshtalk, Dr. Vivek Bindra, Sandeep Maheshwari, Gaur Gopal Das and Anurag Rishi
- Watch movies: Several Hollywood and Bollywood movies can boost motivation with their inspiring themes and stories. Here are a few from both industries:
Hollywood:
- “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006) – A true story about a man’s determination to overcome homelessness and build a better life for his son.
- “Rocky” (1976) – The underdog story of a boxer who strives for success against all odds.
- “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994) – A tale of hope, friendship, and the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity.
- “Forrest Gump” (1994) – This film showcases how an ordinary man can achieve extraordinary things through his simple and optimistic outlook on life.
- “Dead Poets Society” (1989) – It emphasizes the importance of pursuing one’s passions and thinking for oneself.
Bollywood:
- “Chak De! India” (2007) – A story of redemption and triumph as a disgraced hockey coach guides a women’s team to success.
- “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” (2013) – Based on the life of athlete Milkha Singh, it depicts his journey from adversity to becoming a national hero.
- “Dangal” (2016) – Inspired by the true story of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, who trained his daughters to become world-class wrestlers.
- “3 Idiots” (2009) – This film encourages viewers to follow their passions and not succumb to societal pressures.
- “Taare Zameen Par” (2007) – A story about understanding and nurturing individual talents and potential, especially in children.
These movies can motivate by showcasing resilience, determination, and the human spirit’s capacity to overcome challenges. Different films resonate with different people, so you may find one that particularly inspires you.
- Listen to Music: We often see our favourite cricketers listening to music before their turn to bat. Why? because music can evoke strong emotions, and these emotions can drive motivation. Upbeat and energetic music can make you feel more positive and ready to take on challenges. Listening to music you enjoy can boost your mood, reducing stress and anxiety, which can, in turn, motivate you to tackle tasks with a clear mind.
- Surround yourself with high-performance people: Surrounding yourself with high-performance people can lead to motivation in several ways:
- Role Models: High-performers can serve as role models, inspiring you to strive for excellence and achieve your goals.
- Positive Peer Pressure: Positive peer pressure from high-performers can push you to work harder and maintain your high standards.
- Collaboration: Working with high-performing individuals can spark healthy competition and collaboration, fostering a motivating environment.
- Learning Opportunities: Being around accomplished people exposes you to new ideas, skills, and strategies, motivating you to improve and excel.
- Support Network: High-performers often provide valuable support and encouragement, boosting your confidence and motivation.
- Accountability: Accountability to a group of high-achievers can motivate you to meet your commitments and reach your full potential.
Overall, the collective drive and energy of high-performing peers can inspire and motivate you to push your limits and achieve your best.
- Focus on financial gain: As per Vikas, money is the biggest motivation. Salespeople are often compensated based on incentives, commissions, spiffs, and bonuses tied to their sales performance. The potential for higher earnings serves as a direct financial motivator hence sales professionals must plan and focus on financial gains associated with performance. It will help them remain self-motivated.
- Reward yourself: Setting rewards for yourself when you reach specific milestones or goals provides a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep progressing. Smaller acts of rewarding yourself upon achieving set targets can boost morale, act as positive reinforcement, and enjoy the process.
- Focus on recognition: The anticipation of being recognized for your achievements creates a sense of accomplishment, motivating you to continue striving for excellence. One should often visualize himself as a winner and all the perks a winner is likely to enjoy. This motivates you to give your best to the job at hand.
- Strike work-life balance: Balancing work and personal life helps prevent burnout, ensuring that you stay energized and motivated in your job. A balanced life promotes physical and mental well-being, making you feel better and more motivated to take on new challenges.
- Keep Plan B Ready: A backup plan provides flexibility, making it easier to adapt to unexpected obstacles or changes in your primary plan, which can keep your motivation intact. The existence of an alternative plan can make you more resilient in the face of setbacks, as you know you have options to fall back on. Moreover, the act of creating a plan B can be motivating in itself, as it shows your commitment and determination to achieve.
- Have a mentor or coach: A mentor provides guidance, advice, and emotional support, which can boost confidence and motivation in salespeople. Mentors or coaches can share their experiences, including their successes and failures, helping salespeople learn and adapt more quickly. Seeing a successful mentor in action can serve as a role model, inspiring salespeople to emulate their strategies and work ethic. Mentors also provide constructive feedback, helping salespeople improve and stay motivated to enhance their skills.
- Pin a photo of loved ones on a soft board: Having a photo of a loved one in your office can serve as motivation for several reasons:
- Emotional Connection: It reminds you of the people you care about, which can be a powerful source of motivation and drive.
- Stress Reduction: Seeing a loved one’s photo can provide comfort and reduce stress during challenging moments at work.
- Work-Life Balance: It helps maintain a healthy work-life balance by reminding you of your personal life’s importance.
- Purpose: Knowing that you’re working to support or provide for your loved ones can give your work a deeper sense of purpose.
- Positive Energy: The presence of a loved one’s photo can bring positivity and happiness, enhancing your overall work environment.
It’s a personal choice, but for many, it can be a simple yet effective way to stay motivated and maintain a connection to what truly matters in life.
- Have a healthy lifestyle: Regular exercise and a balanced diet can boost your energy levels, making you more productive and motivated to tackle daily tasks. A healthy lifestyle, including exercise and proper nutrition, can positively impact your mental well-being, reducing stress and anxiety, and promoting motivation. Quality sleep is essential for motivation and overall well-being. A healthy lifestyle often leads to improved sleep, leaving you more refreshed and motivated during the day. When you’re physically and mentally well, you tend to be more productive and motivated in your work and personal life.
- Learn from failures: Learning from failure can be a powerful motivator for salespeople for several reasons:
- Personal Growth: When salespeople face setbacks or failures, it provides an opportunity for personal growth and self-improvement. Learning from these experiences can motivate them to become better at what they do.
- Resilience: Sales is often a field filled with rejection and challenges. When salespeople learn to bounce back from failures, it builds resilience, which can motivate them to persist and try again.
- Problem Solving: Failure can highlight areas that need improvement. Salespeople who embrace failure as a learning opportunity are motivated to find creative solutions and enhance their sales techniques.
- Setting and Achieving Goals: When salespeople learn from their mistakes, they can set more realistic and achievable goals. Achieving these goals becomes a motivator for further success.
- Increased Confidence: Learning from failures and adapting strategies can boost a salesperson’s confidence. With each lesson learned, they become more confident in their ability to handle challenges and close deals.
- Competition: The competitive nature of sales can drive salespeople to use failure as motivation to outperform their peers and reach new levels of success.
- Continuous Improvement: Salespeople who see failure as a part of the learning process are motivated to continually improve, adapt, and stay at the forefront of their industry.
In sales, the ability to learn from failure can be a key driver of success and motivation, as it enables individuals to become more skilled, resilient, and adaptable in their pursuit of sales goals.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Motivation is the lifeblood of personal and professional success. Understanding its sources and applying effective strategies can help you harness its power and keep you on track toward achieving your goals. Whether your motivation is driven by intrinsic factors, extrinsic rewards, or a combination of both, remember that it’s a dynamic force that can be cultivated, sustained, and leveraged to transform your aspirations into reality. Stay motivated, stay focused, and embrace the journey to success with open arms.