Stay focused on your goals (and stop running around in circles)

Your motivation can be crippled by a range of factors, including temptation, impatience and negative feedback. But don’t let yourself be thrown off balance: stay grounded and goal-focused.

Based on

Get It Done, Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation, by Ayelet Fishback (‎Little, Brown Spark 2022)

1/ Identify areas where you’re weak

You may switch off because you let temptations distract you or you give up too quickly because you’re impatient. Being aware of your weak points is a first line of defense.

What are your biggest temptations during the day? Is it your smartphone or social networks? Or are you pulled in too many directions by multiple tasks or have trouble sitting still?

What scenarios are most likely to make you want to succumb? Is it when you’re stressed or, on the contrary, in calmer moments? When you’re at the office or when you’re working from home?

Are you more patient in some contexts than others? When it’s a question of your career, family or health, for example?

What makes you impatient? Is it a lack of willpower or a lack of confidence in the future – you don’t see the point in hanging about or don’t believe people when they make promises? Or is it a lack of real interest in the goals you are set or a lack of time (are you snowed under)?

Published by Marianne Gerard

Marianne graduated from HEC in 1998 and is now a freelance journalist specializing in management and higher education. What really fires her up is the human dimension and she is c taking a psychology course at Rennes 2 University. 

Stay focused on your goals (and stop running around in circles)

1/ Identify areas where you’re weak

Chop-chop! Come on: it’s time to get motivated!

Concentration, or the art of working better, faster!

Are you ready to develop a culture of feedback in your team?