A Guide to Motivating Yourself at Work

If you’re feeling disengaged, burned out, or stressed at work, here are some strategies our authors suggest you put into practice.
Understand the impact of your work.
When we start our careers, it’s not always easy to see (and understand) the value we create. When we can’t see our impact, we feel less motivated. According to performance expert Stefan Falk, author of, “Understanding the Power of Intrinsic Motivation,” taking the time to learn how our work contributes to the larger mission of our organization can help us reenter a more positive state of mind.

Once you know the impact of your work, pick one area or project and overdeliver.
Early in your career, it can be easy to overextend yourself and give every task the same level of effort. It makes sense — you’re trying to prove yourself and do good work. But, according to career coach Tracey Wik, this approach is a recipe for burnout. In her article, “How to Stay Engaged at Work (Without Burning Out),” Wik says a better way to stay engaged and grow in your role is to identify and prioritize the tasks that will be most recognized by your manager and organization.

In your meetings with your manager, spend time clarifying the tasks that are most important for you to focus on.

• How do my goals as an individual contributor impact the overarching goals of the company?
• Are there specific tasks on my plate that I should be focusing on over others?
• Can I contribute in new ways that align with my strengths and interests?

These questions can help you decide what areas of work you should be prioritizing. Remember to put your biggest efforts into the projects that will get you noticed. As you do, keep your boss informed about how you plan to execute on your goals, manage your workload, and reach out for support when you need it.
Build habits that help you move through the stressful moments.
To protect yourself from the effects of work stress and burnout, career consultant and coach Brandy L. Simula suggests you cultivate habits that help you move through stress while minimizing the negative impact it has on your physical and mental well-being.

Simula suggests you try out the following:

• Establish a gratitude practice: Research shows that a single moment of gratitude can improve your wellbeing, and it has an even greater impact when you practice it every day. Gratitude doesn’t have to look one way. It can be big (being thankful for your health) or small (being thankful for a great cup of coffee).
• Prioritize acts of kindness: Engaging in acts of kindness is linked to increased self-confidence and stronger feelings of connections to others. Doing small acts throughout the day, every day, such as holding the door for a colleague or greeting a peer in the morning, is most effective.
• Leverage your signature strengths: These are the strengths that feel most authentic to you — that energize you and bring you joy.
• Celebrate your accomplishments: When you achieve something — big or small — pause and take a moment to actually feel it.

Amplify the parts of your job that you do enjoy.
When you’re stuck in a job that you’re unable to quit, look for ways to amplify the more enjoyable aspects of the work you do. Professor Neri Karra Sillaman, in her article, “When You’re Stuck in a Job You Can’t Quit,” explains that aligning your work with your interests and values — or job crafting — can make a big difference.
In practice, this looks like redesigning your daily tasks to focus on your strengths. For instance, if you enjoy client conversations, try to schedule them at the start of the day so that you begin work with something that feels productive and motivating. This positive energy will amplify the sense of purpose you feel at work, and likely help you see the meaning in the smaller, less exciting tasks on your plate as well.

Figure out what gives you meaning outside work.
It’s important to recognize that you may not always find the meaning and purpose you’re looking for at work — and that’s okay. Your job is just one part of who you are. Founder and CEO of Hocking Leadership, Shanna Hocking, writes about the importance of reflecting on our priorities (beyond work) in her article, “Why I Broke Up with My Office.”
She explains that work is not the only place we should seek to thrive in. Our interests, goals, and aspirations outside of our jobs can be just as meaningful. Knowing what we value within the bigger picture of our lives allows us to recognize our needs and articulate them better in and outside of our jobs.

Hocking writes: “Think about what brings you energy, what motivates you, and why. The more specific you get, the better you’ll be able to articulate your values and protect them when they’re challenged.”

by Rakshitha Arni Ravishankar