Ah, spring, the beloved season of Northeasterners when we end our hibernation and seize opportunities to feel bright sun and tepid air on uncovered skin. Many of us find ourselves motivated to walk pathways, rake mulch beds, and open windows. Suddenly, we feel energized and driven to achieve.
So, how do we harness that energy to build our professional success? Regardless of whether we’re striving for growth in our responsibility, income, flexibility, personal time, or relationships, it takes clear strategies to stay motivated and effective.
Here are four good ones:
Focus on self awareness
By understanding our own behavior and how it effects others, we gain valuable information that aids our continued growth. Try this: Reflect on the connection between your emotions and behavior. Identify the triggers likely to lead to positive or negative reactions.
Manage your emotions
Mastering control of our emotional responses brings us interpersonal and intrapersonal rewards. We can improve our interactions with allies (and obstacles), and save our energy for driving our own success. Try this: When stalled by fear, seek a more objective view of reality by considering what’s really at stake.
Plan your goals
Staying motivated means maintaining clarity on what you want to achieve and how to achieve it. Try this: Define qualities that may hold you back from attaining your goals and brainstorm ways to overcome them.
Seek inspiration
Sometimes others serve as powerful reminders of the benefits our hard work can bring. Try this: Invite someone you admire to lunch, attend a professional event, ask for feedback from a colleague.
If it’s not spring when you read this, no need to wait. Any type of transition offers a chance to switch things up–and any season is a good time to spring into professional success.
