Motivation Is Not What Your Team Needs: An Unconventional Solution

Today marks roughly (or spot on) the midway point of the NHL season and while my roster is packed with clients, players and coaches, working hard on and off the ice, there is no denying the obvious complexity of wanting to feel motivated while simultaneously feeling fatigued.??

So, what’s a team to do when the final stretch to the playoffs is among us? A stretch sure to be filled with:

• Faster skating
• Higher compete
• More intensity
• Unmatched chemistry on the line
• Steadfast focus

The secret is that there is no secret.?

Bummer, right? I know. Sorry. I hate to be the buzzkill around here The truth is, motivation is a construct, and feelings are not fact. Thus, the two are unreliable. Just as every coach looks for reliable players, they also too require reliable strategies and systems.

Often, coaches look for me to advise them on how to contrive motivation within their players. They want me to tell them the right thing to say to pump up their team. Players want me to give them my recommendation on the best supplement, optimal mindset, or some other hat trick I might have gone to school for…just to come out with a doctorate bag of tricks. Yet, you see, it doesn’t work that way. Why? Because motivation is not reliable, nor should it be your focus.?

Motivation- you either have it or you don’t, and that won't fly around here. Not in the NHL. We need consistency. So, what’s consistent and reliable? Behavior patterns.?In hockey terms, this most resembles discipline. The commitment to continuously engaging in a certain behavior despite your internal state. If motivation is present or absent, behavior still occurs. Behavior is agnostic to your current beliefs, internal state, and degree of motivation. It has long been a common misbelief that motivation is a prerequisite for taking action.?

However, evidence suggests that it is action or, behavior, that sparks motivation, not the reverse.?The feeling of being motivated isn’t necessary to begin; rather, beginning is what might lead to feeling motivated.This is called Behavioral Activation and it’s founded on the premise that:?Taking action can generate motivation, particularly when facing significant moments or big emotions/overwhelm. Maintaining momentum is crucial for progress; This is then the power of Behavioral Activation.

We all desire motivation and seek ways to overcome stagnation. The dilemma is figuring out how to achieve this. During times of weariness—whether emotional, physical, social, or spiritual—rest can be beneficial. However, prolonged rest can lead to inertia. When our minds and bodies have recovered as much as they will, but we still feel disconnected, this is where behavioral activation becomes valuable.

Introduced in the 1970s by clinical psychologist Peter Lewinsohn, behavioral activation was designed to assist individuals in overcoming depression, apathy, and negative emotions. This approach is founded on the premise that taking action can generate motivation, particularly when facing significant changes or feelings of being overwhelmed.

The real challenge in behavioral activation is finding the energy to begin engaging in meaningful behavior. The good news is, team dynamics and responsibility (and heavy-duty contracts) make this a non-negotiable. The essential realization here is that one might not initially feel inclined to execute a skill a certain way or drive a play to their potential, but as behavior patterns occur regardless of internal state, a shift may occur in internal state.

Our actions often influence our state of being, contrary to the belief that our state of being dictates our actions. Players and coaches are constantly under pressure to perform and win, the concept of behavioral activation can be a game-changer. For players, it’s not always about feeling ready or motivated before a game or practice; it’s about committing to action regardless of mood or mental state.

This principle can be applied to everything from rigorous training sessions to crucial game moments. By actively engaging in their training, even when they don’t feel particularly driven, players can kickstart a positive cycle where action breeds motivation, leading to enhanced performance on the ice. This approach helps in overcoming slumps or off-days, ensuring that players maintain consistency in their performance, which is vital for team success.

For coaches in the NHL, understanding and implementing behavioral activation can lead to more effective coaching strategies. When coaches recognize that motivation often follows action, they can structure practices and team activities in a way that encourages players to engage physically and mentally, even when their motivation levels are low.

This approach can be particularly beneficial during challenging phases of the season, such as post-loss periods or intensive travel schedules. By promoting a culture where action precedes motivation, coaches can foster resilience and adaptability within their teams, leading to improved teamwork, strategic execution, and ultimately, a greater likelihood of victory. This concept aligns seamlessly with the demands of professional hockey, where the ability to persist and perform under varying emotional and physical states is key to winning championships.

So, to summarize: the focus of your team, and your coaching approach would likely benefit from a focus on repeated patterns of behavior regardless of internal state (feelings, emotion, energy, etc). - Behavior trumps motivation every time.

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Well, that’s all for now my friend. Thank you for being here & and supporting my work. My only ask is that you share this with your network if you found it helpful. My goal is always to support and help as many people as possible and that’s not possible without your help. See you next time!

Dr. Alicia Naser, Ph.D.

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