How can social workers stay motivated on long-term projects?

Leaders need to make sure that the project (objective, processes and ethics) continues to align with the purpose and mission of the team members. Continued Purpose alignment with work and mission on both sides is critical.

In my experience as a social work entrepreneur and business owner at The Social Work Incubator??, I frequently manage multiple projects while working with different people. S.M.A.R.T. Goals can be helpful and overwhelming at the same time. This is why I teach and coach social work students & social entrepreneurs how to make S.M.A.R.T. Goals even simpler. (1) Write down everything you can think of that you know needs to get done without researching it. (2) Decide if you are the only person that can do the task or if you need to delegate. (3) If you are going to do the tasks prioritize your list. (4) Allocate an hour or two to work on the task starting at the beginning of the list. (5) Cross out each one when you are done & celebrate.??????

The combination of theory and practical fieldwork is crucial in the field of social work. Neglecting either component often leads to a lack of motivation and effectiveness. Those who understand the theory and can relate it to field experience can create better programs and generate a more significant impact. The synergy between knowledge and hands-on experience in social work is the key to innovation and success, enabling professionals to navigate challenges and create meaningful change within communities.

Fueling Passion for Long-Term Projects: The Unseen Rewards in Social Work. Maintaining motivation may be difficult in the field of social work, where lengthy initiatives aiming at promoting community well-being are common. The task is frequently difficult, the resources are scarce, and the path to significant change occasionally seems impossible. But what motivates us as social workers to continue on these paths of influence and change? The intangible and even invisible benefits are what motivate us to keep going. Community Transformation and Resilience Success Stories Building Trust and Relationships Measurable Impact, Even if Gradual A Sense of Purpose and The Unseen Rewards

BUILD INCENTIVES INTO MEETING TARGETS The project design should incorporate incentives for the team for achieving major project milestones.

It's important to have regular review meetings with the team working on long-term projects and identify roadblocks to address them and celebrate small victories along the way.

Informal feedback can be a great way to keep motivated - this can be from peers, colleagues, people you are supporting, providers. Gathering these smaller pieces of feedback on a regular basis can really help you build your role as a social worker. I have even supported new front door colleagues to provide constructive feedback to experienced social work colleagues, empowering them within their roles.

Motivation is quite subjective and vary for the same individual during the course of their personal and professional career. Feeling lost can also be turned into a opportunity of introspection of "What" and "Why" that's happening. This can/should be supplemented with feedback, seeking help and learning from the growth curve of our peers and others. Being connected and understand to your inner desires of what you want to do, what you are doing and what gaps are there can take you a long way. If we want to really succeed, we need to understand the power of listening and also doing the work we are avoiding, the real magic lies there.

My country has no entity that focuses on the wellbeing of social workers or health professionals, so they tend to deal with emotions in a destructive way. Support for social workers should be invested in.

Having a clear, written out self care plan is crucial too long term success as a social worker. At a minimum you should have a short term goal (up to 1 month), a medium term goal (3-6 months) and a long term goal (12 months+) in four areas of your life (physical, mental, social/emotional and spiritual). Self care is boring and unsexy and it is so much more than going to the movies or getting your nails done. As you begin to work on you as a priority it becomes quite easy to balance the workload, because it is not your primary focus. The more you invest in you, the more you can give to your job in a healthy way.

Prioritizing tasks is key in preventing burnout and continuing momentum on long term projects. Oftentimes, individuals get stuck on one aspect of a project, refuse to move forward, and then become sour to the project in general. It is perfectly okay to shift your focus to another aspect of the project, and then return to the previous one with a fresh mind. By the time you revisit that, you will be closer to project completion, and an increase in energy and motivation to complete it! It also is extremely helpful to get a new perspective from someone, where applicable and appropriate. A simple conversation may help get you out of the rut you think you are in!

Being connected and understand to your inner desires and challenges of what you want to do, what you are doing and what gaps are there, can take you a long way. If we want to really succeed, we need to understand the power of listening and also doing the work we are avoiding, the real magic lies there.

Staying present, maintaining good work without expecting returns, and continually learning new things helps sustain enthusiasm and energy.

Understanding both your organisational and personal “why” is pivotal to remaining motivated on long term projects. This is the case as revisiting this understanding in moments of challenge and criticism reestablishes your purpose in that role from both a personal and professional perspective.

Celebrating small victories is a crucial aspect of maintaining motivation on long-term projects. When dealing with complex and challenging issues like substance abuse or domestic violence, progress can sometimes feel slow and incremental. By recognizing and celebrating each small win, no matter how modest, social workers can build momentum, maintain a positive outlook, and stay dedicated to their long-term goals. These small victories serve as reminders that positive change is possible, even in the face of daunting challenges, and can provide the strength to persevere and gradually build toward significant impacts.

I agree 1000%! Remember your “why” and who you are. You pursued social work because you simply desired to help and transform people, policies, and communities. Life is going to life. You are a pioneer. You are a change agent. You are a person of integrity who do what they say they are going to do. Take a moment, step back, go do something that brings you fulfillment outside of the project in your everyday life so you can regroup, get centered, and be re-energized to get back to the project at hand. You have this opportunity because you are already enough. You have the skills. You have the ability. You have a people-centered to heart improve the lives of others. Now, that you've gotten back to your “why”, make it happen.

- Take time out and breaks. - Don’t be shy in asking for help - Good supervision - Set small targets - Seek new opportunities - Request feedback from peers and external partners.

Ensure there's diversity and each ones views and opinions are considered without discrimination. This will ensure everyone of the stakeholders buys into the project and owns it for success at the end of the day.

Be mindful about who you bring onto your team. Be grateful for the contributions of team members both inside and outside of your discipline. For large projects to be successful it is rarely solely a team of social workers, the non clinical roles are just as important in making sure large scale projects are successful.