MANAGING My CAREER -
Intrinsic Motivation
for More Wake Up Eager Days

Intrinsic motivation and inspiration - do you have "it"? This page is devoted to helping you build it. Get resources for this important Wake Up Eager area Managing My Career, here.

(There are five Wake Up Eager
focus areas: Managing My Mind,
Body, Spirit, Career and Team.)

How did you rate yourself in this area on the online, free Wake Up Eager motivation test?

The items included in the Managing My Career portion of the free Wake Up Eager quiz are:

14. I can easily list my top ten strengths and values, as well as my weaknesses and blind spots. Click here for development resources for this item.


15. My job rewards my most important values and allows me to fulfill my goals in terms of personal growth, achievement, income and stability.Click here for development resources for this item.


16. A day on the job leaves me feeling energized, not burned out. Click here for development resources for this item.


17. I quickly correct misunderstandings and mis-communications when they occur. Click here for development resources for this item.


18. When others provide feedback about my performance I am not defensive.Click here for development resources for this item.

Get MORE Managing My Career Resources Here.

Intrinsic Motivation / Inspiration means: Inward; internal; hence, true; genuine; real; essential; inherent; movement and action. .

This Wake Up Eager Area, Managing My Career Is a focus on how well you know, understand and put-to-use your strengths and communication skills to build your career. This area includes your ability to address and positively manage specific areas of development.

Think back about all the leaders you've known over the years. Put them in two columns.

In column one list the leaders who fit this description: "Yes, this person was/is a leader who was self aware, motivated and inspired at work."

In the second column list the leaders who fit this description: "No, this person was/is not self aware and was not motivated or inspired at work."

Did you create your lists?

When I did this exercise, listing all of the leaders I've known as an employee and as a consultant, I could immediately see the impact of high self awareness and intrinsic motivation on each leader's ability to lead effectively.

Are you seeing the same thing in your list?

All of the leaders I listed are talented, sound business people and personally likable. All of them want to be great leaders. But on my list of hundreds of leaders, the leaders I put in the self aware, inspired and motivated column, actually ARE great leaders.

Here's what I've observed and heard about people who are rated low (the leaders in Column Two) on the Managing My Career items:

• They're perceived to be arrogant.
• Their style involves "pushing" people, demanding performance.
• They focus more on themselves and their needs, than on the needs of other people and are perceived by others as 'takers'.
• Their actions repel people or cause others to dig in their heels.This results in low trust on their teams.
• Their team says "yes" to their face, and "no" behind their back - high performance is impossible.
• These leaders suffer a lot of stress, tension and frustration.

Here's what I've observed and heard about people who are rated high on the Managing My Career items:

• They're perceived to be open, helpful and accessible.
• Their style involves "pulling" people together through listening and inviting input.
• They give more than they take through listening and seeing the best in others.
• They are able to influence and inspire others to take action.
• They report positive relationships both personally and professionally.
• Their teams tend to say "yes" and discuss WITH the leader their different ideas, resulting in higher performance.

The "old-school" way of leadership has not been effective for a long time.

Old School Mindset:

• "If you don’t like it, leave."
• "You should be grateful to have a job."
• "Anyone off the street could do your job."
• (Give notice) "Don’t let the door hit you on the way out."
• "It’s not personal, it’s business."
• "Career development's the employee’s responsibility-there's no time to train."

Does this mindset seep into your day when you're under pressure?

New School Mindset:

The "new-school" way of leadership is effective and has always worked. It is more aware and understanding of intrinsic motivation.

New School Mindset

New school mindsets require self aware leaders who focus on mastering themselves as much as they focus on trying to 'master' their team.

Do you realize that for the most part your team will mimic you and your style?

If you're open and honest about your strengths and development areas, they will be able to be open and honest about their strengths and development areas.

If you're energized and you quickly correct errors, your team will be oriented toward doing this too.

Great leaders set the example, the vision and the benchmark for performance. Focus on building your scores in this Wake Up Eager Managing My Career Area, which includes self awareness and intrinsic motivation. You'll see your team evolve before your eyes. They will become more self aware and intrinsically motivated, as you do.

Wake Up Eager Mini-Workshops for and Interviews with Experts for More Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation.

The Quiz for Self Esteem...Understanding Your Workplace Motivators

Measure Your Communication Style Strengths and Development Opportunities

Video article on How to Choose a Career

A Great Career Management Training Resource I Just Found and Tried...Who Else Wants Good Leadership Skills?

Work Motivation Development Resources

Get More Energy at Work and Home. Name and Claim your Intrinsic Motivations.

Directory of Factoids and Tips for More Motivation in the Workplace and Home

Best Business and Career Education Advice...

Improve Self Confidence: Mastering Feedback

My Favorite Managing My Career Books

Here's How to Build and Keep Workplace Motivation and Inspiration High, for Yourself and Your Team

Increase Self Awareness With: Journal Writing Ideas and Insights - A Cool Tool

How to Find Happiness: Two Secrets

Defeat Communication Anxiety Around Resolving Conflict and Mis-Understandings Article and the Video Version

Leadership Articles

Situational Leadership Guide - Understanding Your Communication Style

Additional Resources for each Wake Up Eager Quiz Area

Intrinsic motivation and inspiration resources are added every week. Click on our RSS Feed, above on your left, to be notified when new resources are added.

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