What drives you?

In our previous article we shared a summary of the 5 Pillars that create a strong foundation for your business to succeed. The first pillar is goal setting - but before we get there...

Setting a goal is easy...

To be honest, setting a goal is easy. And if you want to set a goal that others are impressed by, then you use a method like SMART to get all the elements together. So now you write down a goal, it meets all the consulting criteria of a great goal and there we go - right?

Well... if you do what most people or organizations do, then you write the goal down on a nice piece of paper, maybe put it up against a wall - and then promptly forget about it. You see - a goal is a nice thing to to have until you have to start working on it. If you could get a dollar for every goal that has ever been set and promptly forgotten or left by the wayside, you'd probably be able to buy Amazon.com outright.

Having a goal is one thing. But having a reason to pursue that goal, and then put in the effort to accomplish it... That is something altogether different. And that reason, the thing that drives the movement, is often called your motivation.

What drives you?

In the realm of motivation, there are two primary drivers that influence our behavior: the aspiration towards achieving something ('I want something') and the desire to avoid certain outcomes ('I want to avoid something').

The former, often termed as positive or approach motivation, is usually fueled by hope and ambition. It drives us to chase our dreams, learn new skills, or foster meaningful relationships. This type of motivation is optimistic, forward-looking, and can inspire high levels of creativity and innovation.

On the other hand, the latter, known as negative or avoidance motivation, is powered by fear, stress, or anxiety. It propels us to avoid failure, prevent harm, or steer clear of uncomfortable situations. While this can lead to caution and create a stressful environment, it is often a powerful driver to get going.

Does it matter?

Now, much has been written about the value of positive motivating factors and having something grand to focus on. But in our experience this needs to be a really deep-felt, strong desire to get someone going. What we see more typically is that negative motivation is what gets people going and then, in time, positive motivating factors keeps them going.

So, before we get into the practical mechanics of setting effective goals that can drive and align your team, spend a moment to ask "What drives you and what will keep you going?"

How strong is your business foundation?

If you are not sure if your performance pillars are strong enough to provide an effective foundation for your business, take a moment to complete our FREE 5-minute assessment - get some insight into where you may need to spend some focus ?? Click here to start now.