Hierarchy of Needs, Part 2

Last week, I shared what I believe is a CRITICAL component of Career Growth- Understanding the metrics that actually motivate you in this moment of time.

The article was a hit, and I'm humbled and grateful for all of the positive messages I received from all of you!

To keep up the momentum, I'd like to go a bit deeper into each of these Motivational Metrics.

Especially after the Speaking Panel I was on earlier this week with Woman in Plumbing and Piping. Several young woman shared what motivated them to make a change in their career. Honestly one of the most inspirational sessions I've ever been a part of. They all talked about the negative feelings they had about being in a dead end job. They talked about the challenges of being a woman in certain industries, and how important being in a safe work environment was to them. They talked about being able to figure things out on their own and being recognized for their efforts. They talked about how they liked variety and new problems to solve every day. They talked about how much they like to learn new things every day.

Almost everything they mentioned tied back to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Through a variety of motivations, they had the courage to make a change and develop their skillsets in a new rewarding and fulfilling career.

As I think back through my own life.... there were certainly moments where Level 1 and Level 2 metrics helped drive me to make a change and grow myself.... but I really wasn't consciously aware of my own Hierarchy of needs. I just took action to escape pain and go towards the person I craved to become.

Had I known my own motivations well, I'm positive I could have grown my career even faster and more effectively.

With that context, lets get into today's lesson.

A DEEP DIVE INTO LEVERAGING MASLOWS HIERARCHY OF NEEDS IN YOUR CAREER GROWTH

To Recap from last week, Here's a quick snapshot of potential motivating metrics for each level of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.

Level 1: Physiological Metrics

• Sleep and Rest.
• Shelter and Safety.
• Physical Health and Exercise.
• Nutrition and Hydration.
• Personal Hygiene.

Level 2: Safety Metrics

• Safe Living or Work Environment
• Financial Security
• Job Security
• Mental and Emotional Security
• Health Security (health insurance, preventative care, etc)

Level 3: Love and Belonging Metrics

• Work Friendships
• Team Collaboration
• Volunteering/Serving Others
• Community Impact
• Mentors and Coaches

Level 4: Esteem Metrics

• Self-Confidence
• Recognition and Appreciation
• Empowerment and Autonomy
• Lead Projects and Initiatives
• Positive Customer Reviews

Level 5: Self-Actualization Metrics

• Achieve Mastery in Field
• Thought Leadership
• Passion Projects
• Mentorship and Coaching
• Legacy/Impact

Today.... we are going to get deeper into some self-reflection and questions you can ask yourself to help figure out which of these metrics will help drive change and growth!

Level 1 and 2: Physiological/Safety Self-Assessment Questions

• Do I feel energized and healthy?
• How often do I feel well-rested when I wake up in the morning?
• Do I feel safe, secure, and comfortable in my living environment?
• Do I feel physically fit and capable of handling my daily tasks?
• Am I able to relax and focus on my work?
• How confident do I feel about the stability of my current job or career path?
• Do I feel financially secure, or do I frequently worry about money or paying bills?
• Do I feel emotionally secure in my relationships (Professional and Personal)?
• How much control do I feel I have over my personal and professional life?
• How much do I worry about access to healthcare or the potential cost of medical treatment?

Level 3 and Level 4: Love, Belonging and Esteem Self-Assessment Questions

• Do I feel a sense of belonging to a community?
• Do I feel a sense of camaraderie and connection with my colleagues at work?
• Do I feel that unresolved conflicts are causing strain in my relationships, and am I motivated to resolve them?
• Do I feel that I contribute to social interactions in a meaningful way, or do I feel disconnected or uninvolved?
• Do I value being seen as trustworthy, and how motivated am I to cultivate that reputation in my personal and professional relationships?
• Do I feel supported by my friends, and am I able to offer support to them when needed?
• Do I feel confident in my abilities and skills at work?
• How often do I feel a sense of accomplishment in my daily activities or long-term projects?
• Do I feel that my efforts and accomplishments are recognized and appreciated by my peers, supervisors, or loved ones?
• Do I feel empowered to make decisions and take control of my life or career?
• Am I motivated by internal satisfaction or by the approval and acknowledgment of others?
• Do I feel that I have a positive influence on others?
• Am I motivated by the desire to contribute to something greater than myself, such as helping my team or making a social impact?
• Am I surrounded by people who challenge me to be better and push me toward self-actualization?

Level 5: Self Actualization Self-Assessment Questions

• How important is it for me to seek new experiences, skills, or knowledge to reach my full potential?
• How motivated am I to pursue activities that bring me a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment?
• How important is it for me to express my creativity, whether through art, writing, problem-solving, or other forms of expression?
• Do I feel driven to make a lasting impact on others, my community, or the world?
• How motivated am I to seek new solutions or innovations that challenge conventional ways of thinking?
• Am I motivated to create a life where I can pursue both professional success and personal enrichment?
• Am I motivated by the excitement of exploring uncharted territories, whether in my work, personal life, or hobbies?

AWESOME. If you're like me, just reading these questions get the wheels spinning. AS I SAY WITH ALL ASSESSMENTS, this is just meant to uncover potential areas of growth and motivation. Don't beat yourself up if you don't like your answers to some of these questions.

I'm a bit frustrated about some my own answers of these.

But that's where the gold is.

We humans will go to great lengths to avoid pain and move towards pleasure.

One DEFINITION of Motivation is: the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.

The whole point of this newsletter is to help inspire growth and learning within the workplace. Which effectively is changing behavior from what we are doing now. And we have to understand our own motivations (and the motivations of the people on our teams) to truly inspire behavior change.

Lets get into Action.

ACTION TIME:

1. Print these questions out. Take time with them. Be honest. Be real. This is an incredibly important step into true Lifestyle design (which I will get to in the next few newsletters). Start to think about which ones will truly motivate you to learn and grow.
2. Share your insights in the comments below. I'd love to hear which questions got your brain spinning!
3. If you know someone that could benefit from this newsletter, please share it with them!

As always, I'm full of gratitude for the moments you've spared with me today. I promise to continue to honor those moments with Fresh, Actionable Content. No lame sales pitches. Just straight content to inspire growth and learning in the workplace! We as leaders need to inspire others now more than ever, and we need to understand our own motivations to drive this change. Thank you for subscribing!

Your Friend,

Dan