How can you maintain motivation in a social impact career?

The alternative is soul destroying. I think of Fred Rogers' advice, from his mother, when times are tough, look for the helpers. I have found that taking a long-term perspective about what I have accomplished, rather than all that is left to accomplish, gets me past the tough times. And it seems that whenever I'm struggling I randomly hear from someone who says 'what you said made a difference in how I think and act'. And it's enough.

One of the most effective ways to identify your values is reflecting on moments throughout your life when you've felt fulfilled, happy, proud, and, purposeful. What are the common elements between those moments? What factors contributed to the feelings of fulfillment, pride, etc.? Who were you with and what role were you playing? Once you've reflected on that, think about which values feel core to who you are and what you care most about, and which might be based on the expectations others have of you. Use your values as a foundation to make choices about the roles you play, your goals, and how you integrate your work and your life to sustain yourself.

Aligning your personal values with your professional goals significantly boosts motivation in your work. Here’s how to achieve this alignment: Identify Personal Values: Reflect on what you value most. Is it creativity, impact, sustainability, diversity? Understanding your core values is crucial. Research Organizations: Look for organizations whose missions and cultures align with your values. This could be through their social impact, work environment, policies, or community engagements. Evaluate Roles: Consider roles that allow you to express and act upon your values. For example, a role focused on sustainability would suit someone who values environmental conservation.

Once you’ve identified some of your core values, use them to guide you on where to keep your boundaries firm and where to keep them loose. Especially if you are naturally a giver, embrace the innate pleasure that it brings you and don’t let others impose their views, expectations and “shoulds” onto your situation. Be intentional with each “No” you give. And with each “Yes” that you give, keep in sight how it fits into your story.

In my experience the key motivation driver is aligning your values, ethics and vision to that of the work you are doing. Beyond the alignment, keeping the motivation upbeat involves finding joy in the journey - we all experience chapters of highs and lows in our life. Celebrate wins, big and small, that contribute to positive change. Embrace the humour in navigating the world with a heart, and surround yourself with a supportive community that shares the same values. Remember, making money and making a difference can go hand in hand, so enjoy the ride and the smiles you bring to people's lives.

Sustaining motivation in a social impact career and setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals go hand in hand. To stay motivated, it's crucial to keep your passion for the cause alive by continually connecting with the underlying values and purpose that drive your work. SMART goals provide a clear path to maintain this motivation. They help you define precisely what you want to achieve, how to measure your progress, and when to reach your objectives. By setting these goals, you can break down your mission into manageable steps, which not only maintains motivation but also ensures that your efforts are effective and impactful in the long run.

If you're overwhelmed by SMART goals, if that's not resonating for you, then it's perfectly fine to set goals for yourself in any way that works for you. It's simply one method. Find a method that works for you and that you're comfortable with. When things are not going how you thought they would when you set out, be gentle with yourself and adjust. Lastly, most people set goals that are not realistic when they set out because they're excited about making a change or starting something new. I do. Take your goal and scale it back from the start. It's difficult to stay motivated when you're hard on yourself. When you have the small wins, you'll feel proud of yourself, and be able to increase from there.

Leading an NGO NFP for 10years+ I found maintaining my motivation came from SMART goals. Keeping track helped maintain life in the broader mission. A wise man once told me to 'chunk it up, then chunk it down', with regular reflections on progress. That meant I could monitor, maintain and transfer my passion into purpose, fostered a sense of accomplishment and allowed celebration of small victories - which became bigger ones later on. That fueled my commitment to impacting the community and wider social change.

1. Start by asking exactly what you need to accomplish. This will make your goal specific. 2. Quantify your goals. Measurable goals are easier to track, so build in milestones. 3. Your goal should be achievable. 4. Think why you're setting this goal. 5. Know exactly when you'll have reached your goal.

Vindo de um contexto desafiador, estabelecer metas específicas, mensuráveis, alcan?áveis, relevantes e com prazo foi crucial. Transformar uma vis?o ampla em etapas gerenciáveis permitiu n?o apenas clarificar meu caminho, mas celebrar conquistas e aprender com falhas.

Being in the company of fellow change agents is essential to get support and insights on the often long hard slog of making change.

One of the most valuable practices I started is a monthly reflection session. I call it Sense and Respond it allows to reflect on the past month and understand what went well, what did you learn and what had the biggest impact. As well as setting the intentions for the next month. It allows to acknowledge the progress rather than focusing on what is missing and supports motivation.

It is important to acknowledge that learnings can come in many forms. Actively seek out feedback from those that inspire you with thought leadership and practices, and take the time to digest these feedback into actionable steps where relevant. I find that self grace goes a long way in this journey. Give yourself time, and practice being honest with your vulnerability.

To maintain motivation in a social impact career, seeking feedback and support is essential. Engaging with feedback and support can help you stay inspired and enhance your impact. Actively seek input from colleagues, mentors, and the communities you serve to gain fresh perspectives on your work. Constructive feedback can provide insights and suggestions for improvement, reinforcing your commitment to making a difference. Additionally, building a robust support network within the social impact sector can provide emotional sustenance and offer resources when challenges arise. Collaborating with like-minded individuals can remind you that you're not alone in your mission and that together, you can achieve more.

Have an awesome community: Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who share your passion for social impact can provide invaluable support and inspiration. Building a strong network of colleagues and mentors within the social impact sector can help you stay motivated and connected to the larger mission

It's very easy to feel burnout in the social impact sector. As we all want to make the most impact we can, and the issues we are tackling are overwhelming, we can lose our life balance if we don't look after it proactively. Something that works very well for me is to prioritize a morning routine that helps me get back in balance. Every morning, I do meditation, yoga and breathwork. Even if the day goes crazy after that, I've set the basis to ensure I can face challenges with resilience. Disconnecting from technology in the evening also helps. Remember, working more hours doesn't necessarily amplify your impact. Being always at your best does.

In my journey as a health equity strategist, I've learned the importance of maintaining a balanced workload to stay motivated in a social impact career. It's vital to recognize that you cannot pour from an empty cup. So, prioritize tasks based on impact and urgency, and don't hesitate to delegate when needed. Equally important is to consciously carve out time for self-care and activities that rejuvenate you, whether it's a hobby, exercise, or simply spending time with loved ones. By maintaining this balance, you'll find yourself more energized and effective in your role, making a greater impact in the long run.

Burnout in this field is real. It's okay to take an extended break when you need to. I know that can be terrifying, but this work is not going anywhere, we are only one piece of it, and none entirely rests on one person to succeed. We owe it to ourselves and the mission of our work to recognize what we need, to rest and recover, and come back to it when we are ready. That means taking care of ourselves and recharging for as long as is necessary.

Build in a non-negotiable routine/habit of beginning and ending each day with a moment of gratitude and reflection helps. You can't make an impact if you don't treat yourself with the dignity that you need to give others.

I'm a staunch proponent of taking deliberate pauses. Introspection and rest aren't just pit stops; they're critical . It's in these moments of stillness that we often find our greatest clarity and strength to persevere.

In my view, it is extremely easy to get lost in the tactical details and lose sight of the bigger picture and higher purpose. One of the most effective ways to keep oneself motivated is to have a "personal impact tracker". In my case, it is a simple excel tool where with time I have developed attributability metrics where I can track what my work has impact (how many tonnes of CO2 abated, how many children lifted out of malnutrition etc.). Trust me, while this seems silly initially, with time you will realise how much impact one person actually can make, and whenever I feel that I am banging my head against a wall, I go back and look at it. I have also started compiling short videos of impact, which is for my own personal reference.

Working in social impact and making efforts to address social injustice is incredibly taxing on the human mind, body, and soul. Renewing your purpose means knowing what your purpose is, having it as your North Star if you will, AND also consistently reassessing your why and your who. Our values and our interest shift over time. However, the core of who we are, and the causes that mean the most to us, deepen and evolve in other ways. As you renew your purpose, you may find that one avenue you've taken before may no longer serve you. However, you can still address the needs and advocate on the same issue through other means. In addition to renewing your purpose, it is important to renew and evaluate the ways that you engage in advocacy.

If you work in the environmental conservation field, this might sound too obvious to say, but GET OUTSIDE IN NATURE. Too many of us spend the majority of our working hours in windowless conference rooms or in front of screens at the center of concrete islands of major cities, wearing hard pants and closed shoes, while discussing the importance of biodiversity and "nature-based solutions". It is imperative to connect with that which sustains your soul: forest bathing, SCUBA diving, hiking, wildlife watching, and other immersion in natural environments are key to rooting us in our purpose.

To renew your sense of purpose and maintain motivation, periodically revisit the core reasons that first inspired you to make a difference. Reconnect with the positive changes you've achieved and engage with the communities you aim to serve, witnessing firsthand the impact of your work. Stay open to learning and innovation, set new, values-aligned goals, and collaborate with like-minded organizations. Celebrate your achievements, practice self-care, and seek inspiration from notable figures in the social sector. Regularly reassess your career path and goals to ensure they still resonate with your values and passion. By following these strategies you can renew your purpose and continue to create meaningful change in your social impact career

Take breaks often. Take time for you. Take time off. Disconnect so you can connect and reconnect better, with a clearer purpose and more focused energy. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Intentionally take care of yourself throughout.

It helps to learn and grow beyond your specialization. Explore new domains, build new networks, read new books, find new role models, strategize to acquire a diverse, complementary skillset. In the world of complex, multidisciplinary social challenges, relying on knowledge and experience in a single domain can be limiting or even counterproductive, and can rob us of all motivation!

Building upon this, the process of learning and evolving alongside others has consistently enabled me to establish and maintain a meaningful impact. There are so many people dedicated to effecting positive change, and the intersections of these social causes are evident. Solutions are more powerful when more people come together.

Actively collaborating on platforms such as LinkedIn, expanding your network with people with similar goals, and hearing and witnessing their inspiring stories is a very enjoyable, hopeful, and educational adventure for me.

This is as important as the other points. The field of social impact is ever-evolving, especially depending on which sector you're in. Stay curious and keep learning. Reading books, following other leaders, and connecting with academic leaders will help you understand what will come next in the social impact field.

Keep learning and building your skills: Continuous learning and skill-building are essential for staying motivated in a social impact career. Whether it's attending workshops, enrolling in online courses, or seeking mentorship, investing in your professional development will keep your passion for your work alive.

Take the long view: Remembering the bigger picture and long-term impact of your work can provide the motivation needed to persevere through the inevitable challenges and obstacles in a social impact career

Remember why you started! Social impact is about creating lasting, sustainable value for others. Remaining conscious of the fact that you're involved in something much bigger than you will keep you on track!

Think about the brilliant people in each and every community. Find people to elevate and celebrate every day. When you spread light and lift up others, it is easier to keep going on the hard days. Remember the smiles of someone who felt seen and heard because you paused for a moment to engage or you honored their contributions. Remember the tears of someone struggling to get by and their relief when you acknowledged they mattered. Remember the powerful moments when people come together for a common goal. Tap into those moments of brilliance and see all those who have less, but still show up to serve and support others. When you remember the people, honor their experience, and show them they matter, their light will re-ignite yours.

Reflect on the concept of 'compassion fatigue,' common in social impact careers. Recognizing and addressing it through self-care and professional support can be crucial for sustaining long-term motivation and effectiveness in your role.

Celebrate and commiserate: Acknowledging the wins, big or small, and sharing the challenges and setbacks with others in the field can help you stay motivated and maintain a healthy perspective on your work.