Staying Motivated When the Organization Around You Isn't Helping

Get Self-Motivated

Last week, I had the honor of being interviewed for a small book project a friend of mine was working on. He was interviewing Toastmasters about their experiences and how being a part of that organization has helped us.

I was glad to talk with him. I have been a Toastmaster since 2009. In addition to helping me get comfortable with public speaking, it's been a proving ground for me to develop the leadership skills that have helped me advance my career.

But when he asked me why I stayed in the organization, I stumbled.

Recently, I've taken on new responsibilities with my area. Sometimes it feels like new tasks and items get sprung on you without warning. And because the term of service is 12 months, there's no time to get acclimated or stand on firm ground before you're moving on to the next thing. It's stressful. It's time-consuming. At times, it's annoying.

And I still love it!

Despite my feeling like outside influences are overwhelming, I see my goals on the horizon, and I know that this process and this organization is helping me get there. 

When supervisors get trained in motivating employees, we're told:

• Know what your employee wants 
• Focus on individual benefit
• Set clear expectations
• Recognize achievement

I internalized these principles, and use them to self-motivate. I know I'm motivated by organizing others to help them achieve their goals. My job and resume benefit from the things I accomplish by doing this, and I personally feel satisfied when my group experiences positive results. I know what I need to do, and I try to set my standards at the right level that makes appropriate use of my time and talent. Then when I accomplish something, I feel proud and glad, and that's really all the recognition I need.

You don't need your supervisor or the broader organization to keep you motivated. But you can use the same principles that managers use to motivate their personnel to motivate yourself.

Know what you want. Focus on the benefits that make it worth your while. Set your own attainable standards and expectations. And be happy for yourself when you see progress.

But remember if you're going to pat yourself on the back, stretch first so you don't break an arm.

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NOTE: There are lots of good resources and many theories on motivation available online. The items in my list were adapted from Toastmasters 5 Principles of Motivation. And although I did not directly reference it for this article, I'm a reader of, and often influenced by, MindTools.com.