How to Make Learning Automatic, Easy, and Inevitable

Necessity is the mother of invention. Some decry this saying yet if we consider intrinsic motivators to be at least as powerful as extrinsic necessity, all can accept the truth of the sentiment. Indeed, intrinsic motivators are compelling. They shape our decisions and actions without the need for thought.

Some people are first driven by position and status, others by money, duty, or achievement. There are those who first need challenge or interest to light the fire of passion and some who put freedom or autonomy above everything else. Still others covert safety, certainty, and security before gung-ho motivators. Relationships, friends, or personal leisure time can be at the top of the list.

Everyone has a unique balance of intrinsic motivators, so it is extraordinarily difficult to create extrinsic motivation that is widely effective.

Instead, accelerated learning is achieved on an individual basis, leveraging motivators that are particular to a person and circumstance. Necessity can force learning, yet it happens faster when we each find our own reasons for learning quickly.

This is the topic addressed in the third video in our set of three on accelerating learning.  In the video I discuss eleven sources of learning motivation. Some depend on circumstances and extrinsic pressures, some on the intrinsic sources of motivation listed above, and some on a combination of factors.

In my role as a consultant, coach, and trainer I find that acquiring specialist knowledge and employing it to create solutions, happens easily. This learning comes from professional interest, the necessity of effective delivery, and a strong desire to add value. It comes from repeated engagement in challenging projects and from a burning desire to fulfil client expectations. I am fortunate in this respect. These circumstances have come about by chance. With hindsight, I might have sought such circumstances more often, established the habit earlier in my life, and perhaps contributed more as a result.

The eleven aspects of learning motivation discussed in the video are:

1.       Measurement and Monitoring of KPIs'

2.       Peer Pressure

3.       Changing Priorities

4.       Mistakes

5.       Choice

6.       Reflection and Review

7.       Required Procedures

8.       Changed Attitudes

9.       Changed Beliefs

10.  Perceived Threats

11.  Trauma

Since my focus is B2B sales, I have used some examples from this domain to illustrate the eleven aspects of learning motivation. Yet the motivating factors and recommendations for leveraging them are universal in applicability and so the videos and accompanying resources can be adapted and for any field.

There are some links, templates, and tools referred to in the video. If you would like copies of the documents, please ask. If we are not connected, send me a connection invitation together with the request.

Article by Clive Miller

https://salessense.co.uk, [email protected], Tel: +44 (0)1392 851500.