How leaders stay motivated towards a large and important goal
How leaders stay motivated toward a large and important goal
It’s a good idea to have an achievement list.
Each large goal is reached by completing hundreds, or even thousands, of small steps. An achievement list helps us retrospectively look at our journey so far and the hard work we have already completed. Sometimes, one bad day, or even one bad moment, can make us completely doubt our choice. In these moments, such a list can be an energy boost and a source of optimism.
Instead of focusing solely on what has not happened yet and living in a constant ‘if’-state, it is sometimes a good idea to switch your attention to the direct, concrete past.
Why do achievement lists work?
Noting down things that are ‘done’ is like a snowball, which, gaining momentum, helps you effectively work, day-by-day. Progress in itself is a great source of strong motivation, as it engages and encourages. Harvard Business School professor Teresa Amabile and psychologist Steven Kramer have found that “small victories” propel our progress. When you note the progress down, it becomes easier to act according to plan.
Having a list of completed tasks encourages reflection and helps visualize where you are in the journey. It spurs patience and consciousness, helps with planning, and gives a clearer idea of where you are and how much work there is left to accomplish.
A list of completed tasks is difficult to ignore, as it requires active involvement from your side. The practice is about noting down your achievements (or lack thereof) and notes for yourself.
How do you make an achievement list?
This, of course, is your choice ;)
Unlike with a to-do list, there is a lot of room in terms of registering the completed tasks. Just remember not to transform the list of completed tasks into a “list of completed to-do tasks” – that would miss the point. The value of an achievement list is in your self-reflection.
A couple of minutes for reflection is enough
Looking at what you have already completed does not take long and offers a good sense of your accomplishments, direction, motivators, demotivators, distractors, and flow-states. An achievement list can help you understand the way you deal with your work or project, what path you have chosen in your life, what has been planned, and what has been unexpected.
It is key to expand the list with your notes and observations. Without it, you’re missing the point.
This way, you can gain more motivation and learn more about yourself and the process. Celebrate your achievements and be happy about them, and pave the road for new ones.
Quality before quantity
Unlike to-do lists, which can focus on everyday tasks and minor details, achievement lists are most useful when prepared with a given context and related to a certain goal. It is thus unadvised to note down simple things like “I picked up my suit from the cleaner’s” just to ‘pump up’ the list.
Balance your lists
For those who get anxious while looking at to-do lists, an achievement list can be a relief and a getaway, and, through the analysis of the path from planning to completion, a helpful self-development tool, useful for optimizing the strategy creation process and the creation of new task lists.
What questions should I ask myself while working on such a list?
What has influenced your progress?
Is it something that can be controlled or changed to ease progress instead of slowing it down? Can it be subcontracted? Are there any patterns dictated by your surroundings or the way the plan is being executed, which propel progress or make it difficult?
What about your emotions?
Feelings and emotional states can drastically influence your motivation level and the way you work. This is why emotional awareness is important.
What has influenced your emotions? How did it influence your emotions? How did it influence your relations with others? Were the tasks you were dealing with remarkably frustrating? Are you happy with or proud of what you have done?
What have you done today that you would like to remember in the future?
This question can lead you to reflect on your achievements. A similar method can be used with many other things, such as evaluations and results summaries, and in moments of reflection such as New Year’s Eve and birthdays. Proof of what works and what doesn’t is presented on your achievement list.
How can I transform my problems into progress?
Learn from your mistakes. Can you derive methods of improving the state of things or achieving progress tomorrow based on what went wrong today? Identify and change the negatives into positives so that they become the fuel for your progress. We aren’t perfect and perfect days are rare – but we can build a better future for ourselves based on how we think about the past.
Is there someone who could have helped you today?
A lot of us don’t want to ask for help. We dislike being dependent on others. However, in such a complex reality, playing solo is not the best idea.
What are three good things you can say about today?
As you note down your achievements, sort through the day in your memory and look for positive events. Be specific and consider whether there was a reason behind them. When you note down positive things and are grateful for your life, you will be able to more effectively sustain positive self-reflection.
Good luck!
You can read the other articles later – now is the time to grab a pen or pencil and, in an old-school way, start writing. Put away your laptop and your phone. Don’t wait, get started today.
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