What is motivation? We want to address this important question in detail in this article. To do so, we will look at the background, misconceptions and all other decisive factors. However, I would like to start with a thesis: motivation is a matter for the boss! And always.
Yes, you read that right, motivation should always be our top priority and we need to remind ourselves every single day why we do what we do. Well, and that's not always easy. Because we regularly have doubts, struggle with problems and think about throwing in the towel. That's why it's so incredibly important to give ourselves a loving but firm kick in the butt again and again.
Because if you don't do it, nobody will. Nobody knocks on your door in the morning and presents you with the opportunity of a lifetime on a silver platter. No fairy will appear out of nowhere and cast a spell to make your innermost wishes come true. And even modern motivators such as Jürgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel or Julian Nagelsmann won't appear in your office when you could do with a little motivation on a difficult day.
What is motivation?
As sorry as I am, life is like that, and at the end of the day you are fully responsible for your motivation and your decisions, and therefore also for your results. Unfortunately, this realization is still very much at odds with the common approach of motivational theory. But there is also good news: you already have everything you need to change this sustainably and with a high level of inner drive. You just need to discover it, bring it to the surface and apply it every day.
I would therefore like to use this article to herald a paradigm shift with regard to the topic of motivation. Even if the future will be characterized by technical developments such as artificial intelligence, robots and automation, it will always be intrinsically motivated people who use technology and actively shape the future with the many new possibilities. Why can I say this with such vehemence?
Because we are in the middle of the transition from an information society to a meaningful society. Just a few years ago, data, information and knowledge were the most important commodities of all. Today, it is a deep sense of meaning, the expression of individual personality and the compatibility of work and life. Of course, this also means that our very personal approach to motivation is changing. changed framework conditions must adapt. A new, modern approach is needed that meets the needs, values and requirements of the 21st century. The motto is: Kick your own ass!
The time of Tschakka Tschakka motivation is over
When we ourselves pursue our goals with passion, enthusiasm and dedication, we also infect other people with these strong emotions. In order to flip the rusty switch, the first step is for the term motivation to finally shed the dubious image of the past. I don't know about you, but I think this is long overdue. The world is undergoing one of the biggest transformation processes of the last 250 years. And for the challenges of the future that go hand in hand with this, the old tricks of the past are completely the wrong methods.
The days of motivational trainers shouting "Tschakka", esoteric gurus preaching light and love and the blunt use of carrots and sticks are simply over. People are realizing more and more every day that hollow phrases and false promises are no longer going to win them a flower pot. Instead, they are longing for meaning, values and sustainability. And yet personal development, growth and Shift still sold and taught in the same way today as it was in Helmut Kohl's time shortly after reunification.
What does motivation mean
Go to any motivational seminar of your choice and you will always find the same patterns. A bold Becker fist here, a fervent wish to the universe there and a cornucopia of metaphors that are so hackneyed you'll want to sink into the floor in shame as you listen. The results are accordingly. In the short term, the recipients of these insubstantial motivational speeches are full of energy and feel like they can uproot all the trees in the world at once. However, as sure as the Amen in the church, the steep rise is followed by a crash into the familiar listlessness. People take refuge in cynicism, indifference and sarcasm.
It is precisely this superficial approach that has ensured that the answer to the question „What is motivation?“ and the term motivation have extremely negative connotations these days, and the profession of motivational trainer has a correspondingly bad reputation. If it were a real profession: many self-proclaimed motivational trainers have just attended a weekend seminar and then feel called to carry their messages out into the world. Because I know the wonderful power that motivation shaped by purpose and motives can unfold, this development makes me angry.
And at the same time, I ask myself why so many people still fall for the false promises of the supposed prophets. After many years of observation, research and reflection, I am now certain that the answer lies in a simple yet fatal fact:
People only ever hear what they want to hear.
Motivation sayings: The gurus are wrong!
And most motivational phrases are so wonderfully wrapped up in absorbent cotton that you simply want to believe them. Deep down, we sense that something can't be right. But the alternative would be that we would have to make difficult decisions, work hard and really change. And since most people aren't prepared to do this, in good old Matrix fashion we prefer to swallow the blue pill and believe the false promises of the motivational gurus.
Fancy a few examples? Here we go:
- You can do anything.
- You just have to want it, the rest will take care of itself.
- The universe will take care of your success.
- Everything is fine the way it is.
- Delete the word „impossible“ from your vocabulary.
- What happens should happen.
- If you don't achieve a goal, then it wasn't meant to be.
- From now on, we no longer say problem, but great opportunity. (This sentence is my absolute favorite. Anyone who says that has never had any real problems).
- You have to order your wishes from the universe, then they will manifest themselves in your life.
- You just have to see positively.
You can do anything! Sorry, unfortunately not.
Do you understand what I mean? Although there is a little spark of truth in every sentence, these slogans tempt you to take the easy way out instead of putting in the necessary work. You scratch the surface a little instead of getting to the core of what drives you. Instead of using your heart and mind equally, suddenly everything is just a mental block, plays out in your head or doesn't work because Mercury is currently retrograde. (I admit it, I've always wanted to write this sentence in a blog article.lol)
These motivational phrases are then usually rounded off with a firm thump on the chest, a hopeful look towards the universe and finally a convinced „Tchakka, you can do anything!“. And then you're surprised when you crash and burn. Incidentally, I won't go into the currently very popular glorification of the topic of „failure“ in more detail here, otherwise I'll open the next Pandora's box.
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What motivates me?
It always breaks my heart when I meet people who want nothing more than to bring about change and then fail miserably due to the wrong motivational methods. With this article (and of course my books), I have therefore set myself the major goal of changing this. I cannot repeat it often enough:
In times of increasing uncertainty, people and their individual personalities will be the most important success factor of the future.
And that also means that we have to change the prevailing approach to motivation. radically change must. If we really understand what motivates, moves and drives people, then we hold the key to a life full of satisfaction, success and meaning in our hands.
„Oh come on, Ilya, that almost sounds like a revolution.“ Yes, you're right. That's exactly what I intend to do: To let the wind of change blow through encrusted companies, stuffy offices and externally determined lives. To instigate a motivational revolution that shows the red card to the hot-air steam chatterers and ensures that we are finally driven by meaningful motives again. Does that sound ambitious? Right, because I'm simply not in the mood for mediocre goals anymore.
At the end of the day, we all have a great desire to dare to make changes, experience courageous breakthroughs and enjoy personal freedom. So let's cut out the old habits and start swinging new brooms. Let's create one of Sense and values beyond carrots and sticks. It would make me infinitely grateful if you would support me in taking this philosophy out into the world with me and infecting people with the positive change virus.
It all starts with a spirited kick in the butt. And in your own. In order to do this in the best possible way, we first want to address the simple but crucial question of what exactly motivation is. Because even though this term is constantly on everyone's lips, there is still a great deal of semantic vagueness. So let's make an attempt at a definition.
Motivation Definition
Okay, so what exactly is behind the term motivation? In purely linguistic terms, it can be traced back to the Latin word movere (to move, to drive). The online library Wikipedia defines it as „The totality of motives that lead to a willingness to act. Motivation refers to a person's striving for goals or desirable target objects based on emotional and neuronal activity (activation).“ I don't know about you, but I find this sentence a little too complicated. I would therefore like to present you with my own, much simpler definition:
Motivation is the inner drive to get from point A to point B physically or mentally.
I would like to emphasize one fact in particular with this sentence, namely that motivation always comes from within. Even though the concept of extrinsic motivation is mentioned again and again in almost every article, book or seminar, this carrot-and-stick drive unfortunately only exists in theory. In practice, extrinsic motivation, where people only act at the prospect of money, praise or the avoidance of punishment, is nothing more than a myth.
„But wait a minute, Ilja. What about Jürgen Klopp's whipping-up speeches, salary increases or bonus payments for achieving goals?“ Of course, this objection is justified - after all, rewards in the form of money, recognition or material assets, as well as the threat of sanctions, definitely have a corresponding effect. But unfortunately this is always short-lived. If you've ever tried unsuccessfully to get your children to tidy up their room with the prospect of an ice cream or the threat of an iPad ban, then you'll know what I mean.
Motivation always comes from within
The same principle also applies to our professional lives, of course. No amount of money and no bonus payment in the world will make you do a job that frustrates you, makes you ill or that you don't want to do in the long term. In the same way, any threat of dismissal, sanctions or loss of hierarchical status will fizzle out in the long term. In the short term, you are motivated, full of energy and drive, but as soon as the effect has worn off, you fall back to your original level, often even significantly lower. As a result, the dose and intensity of the external stimulus must be continuously increased. It's a bit like a drug addict who is never satisfied and always needs more substance to reach their feel-good level.
Because the more often carrots and sticks are used as supposedly extrinsic motivation the faster the corresponding effect wears off. This is also referred to as diminishing marginal utility. What is this, you ask? Imagine entering your favorite pub after a hot day. The first beer is heaven on earth for you, you would pay anything for it. You'd probably pay for the second one too. By the third, your enthusiasm is already waning. And after the eighth glass at the latest, you can't see any more beer and prefer to reach for water. This is precisely the principle of diminishing marginal utility.
Motivation - An inconvenient truth
And because this is the case, long-term, meaningful and sustainable motivation always comes from within. A deep need, a value to be fulfilled or a specific motive ensure that we take action and then lead to the corresponding results on the outside. So let me tell you a possibly painful truth:
You can't motivate other people!
So, now it's out. And I can literally feel the storm of protest and outrage. Believe me, no other statement I make triggers more controversial discussions in companies than this one. No wonder, after all, we have all learned over the years that with the right combination of carrot and stick, we can drive our employees, colleagues and business partners to unimagined heights of performance.
But as with everything else in life, there are always two people involved: one who motivates and one who wants to be motivated. And the last word is the decisive one. Because if someone doesn't want to do something under any circumstances, no matter how modern, attractive or ingenious your methods are, you won't stand a chance. I would therefore like to expand the above sentence a little to make the statement even clearer:
You can't motivate other people if they don't want to be motivated!
What is motivation?
Of course, the reverse is also true: other people can't motivate us if we don't want them to. Have I shaken your world view too much now? Do you completely disagree? I would like to remind you that I would be delighted if you would consider my ideas, opinions and approaches as critically as possible. Check my statement in your everyday life. My prediction, however, is that you will find that many people will quickly bite the bullet with your external motivation skills. Because as much as I would like it to be different:
People only ever change for reasons that are important to them and never for reasons that we would like them to.
Does this mean that all motivation is always a form of self-motivation? In principle - Radio Yerevan sends its regards - yes: we can't motivate others if they don't want it. But if we understand that this is exactly the case, then it works at the end of the day.
In a nutshell, the solution is: if we want to motivate other people to move mentally or physically from point A to point B, then we need to know their inner motives and create the framework conditions in which these are triggered or initiated as often as possible. At first glance, this sounds easier than it actually is, because it requires maximum flexibility from us as motivators and the presence of the following three characteristics:
- Genuine interest in the other person.
- The ability to be a good listener.
- The willingness to put one's own motives aside in favor of the desired result.
The better you understand the values, needs and Motifs of your employees, colleagues and customers, the more flexibly you can adapt your communication style and motivate them to change accordingly. But there is one important fact to bear in mind.
What really motivates you?
Intrinsic motivation is the inner drive to get physically or mentally from point A to point B. Basically, this can happen in two ways: either because point A has become unbearable for us or because alternative B sounds much more tempting. We always change when the pain has become too great or when we are driven by an irrepressible desire for growth, happiness and joy. And that is precisely why we either move away from the problem or towards the opportunity.
That is the essence of any change. We are either attracted by opportunities or pushed by problems. And even if the way-from motivation always has a stronger force, in the long term we always need goals, dreams and visions to move towards. But whether we want to avoid pain or experience joy: Without the right drive, it is simply not possible to think differently, decide differently or act differently. And in this day and age, that is synonymous with stagnation, stagnation and regression.
Motivation as the key to success in tomorrow's markets
Only those who grow as personalities, continue to develop and constantly learn will be able to succeed in the markets of tomorrow. The key to this is the right motivation. However, this is never just an end in itself, but always the necessary basis for the desired changes. Without the right drive, there is no personal development, we do not grow and we do not improve as a company. And even if we manage to tackle our goals, it is far from certain that we will persevere to the end.
Because nothing else is as difficult for us as making lasting changes. The last diet, the gym membership and the repeated attempt to stop smoking all send their regards. Short-term success is no problem at all. Guided by the right initial euphoria, we manage to set off effortlessly. But we soon get caught up in the daily grind again and make the first exceptions - and before we know it, our old habits have regained the upper hand. But why is that?
Knowledge is only worth something if it is applied consistently
In my presentations, I am often asked the question „What is motivation?“. I then like to answer with a counter question to my audience: „Which of you would like to do more sport?“ All hands almost always go up at this point. Then I follow up: „Who would also like to lose a kilo or two of weight?“ Here, too, I regularly see an almost 100% response rate.
But the next question is crucial: „Which of you knows exactly what you would have to do to achieve this?“ At this point, a murmur usually goes through the room, the first people feel caught out and look down. Because they probably already suspect what comes next: „And which one of you does exactly that every day?“
When I look into the audience at this point, I see a maximum of two or three hands in the air. Unfortunately, the rest have to admit that, although they have all the necessary information, they are not implementing the change consistently. And that is precisely the big dilemma. It is never due to a lack of knowledge. It is always because we do not consistently apply the knowledge we have. I'm sorry if I'm deceiving you, but this is actually the case.
If information, knowledge and skills were decisive for our motivation to change, then we would all have washboard abs, play golf all day and dive through our countless money bins every morning like Scrooge McDuck.
Motivation and change go hand in hand
I have been researching the field of personal development for over 15 years and am increasingly fascinated by what makes people tick, what drives and motivates them. My main finding can be summarized in one sentence:
Everyone wants change. But nobody wants to change.
Have you had similar experiences? Don't you know people who are dissatisfied with everything and everyone? For whom nothing really fits and who would love to change the company, society and the whole world overnight? You have no idea how many of these contemporaries I know who know exactly what and who needs to change around them just so they can stay the way they are.
One of the best examples of this attitude was one of my colleagues at Karstadt, let's call her Erika Riebesehl. When I asked her in the aisle in the morning: „So, Mrs. Riebesehl, how are you doing today?“, the answer usually came in a whiny and frustrated tone: „Oh, eight more hours and then we'll finally have done it again.“ And Erika Riebesehl had two standard sayings that she was known for. If there was a problem somewhere, she would always say:
„Someone urgently needs to do something.“ And if you then followed up with: „Yes, but why aren't you doing anything?“, then standard line number two would be used: „Who, me? Please, Mr. Grzeskowitz, I can't do more than work. Let the others do it for you.“ We all know the Erika Riebesehls of this world, don't we? But if everyone waits for others to do something, then nothing ever happens.
A single person can make a huge difference
But fortunately, the opposite is also true. A single person can make a huge difference if we are prepared to take responsibility. For our thoughts. For our actions. For our lives. All it takes is a consistent decision. We can either be a changemaker who actively shapes the ever-increasing intensity of change, or we can be a pawn of external circumstances. And I am very aware that there is nothing else I refer to as often in my books as the importance of taking responsibility. But it still doesn't seem to be enough.
Just today I read a review of my book Mach es einfach! Why we don't need permission to change our lives, in which the reviewer wrote the following: „In general, the book was good. Unfortunately, the motivation only lasted a week. Probably need to read it one more time.“ At that moment, I had to think of another great sentence by the great Zig Ziglar, who once said: „We often hear that motivation is not permanent. But the same goes for showering.
And that's exactly why we recommend it every day.“ Whether we like it or not, we ourselves are always responsible for implementing our plans. Not our boss, not our family and not the author of a blog article. The all-important question is therefore: Are you prepared to declare your motivation a matter for the boss? If so, then you have also found your answer to the question „What is motivation“.
Yours sincerely, Ilja Grzeskowitz
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