The EnneaBoost is a project that targets young people and helps them to make better life decisions; thereby finding a place in the world of tomorrow.
According to the Theory of Needs by David McClelland, there are three main drivers of motivation:
- need for achievement
- need for affiliation
- need for power
For us to build commitment, we must be able to set long term goals and be motivated. For example, as humans when we are part of a team and our work is valued, we become more loyal and committed.
Drivers to Motivation
- Theoretical which is the desire to learn. When we are provided with opportunities to problem solve, we are given the opportunity to learn. We are sharing knowledge with others through training and mentoring.
- Utilitarian which is the desire to see high return on investments for time, energy, and resources. When tasks are assigned, they should be completed quickly, in short amounts of time and using limited resources. We are also encouraged to use our resourceful problem-solving skills and work efficiently. Our eye for efficiency is also put to test here.
- Aesthetic which is the desire to create and experience harmony, beauty, and balance. Here our skill of creativity is put to test and respect their desire for balance between their work and home life. This can be achieved by finding a calm, pleasing, and comfortable space to work. When we are presented with opportunities to be creative, we are given space and time to put our own mark on projects. We can balance this approach with clear expectations around outcomes and timelines.
- Individualistic which is the desire to lead, create strategic alliances, and maximize personal accountability. We should not limit opportunities for advancement when they are ready and have proved themselves. They particularly value leadership roles; provide recognition for their accomplishments; leverage their motivation to lead and achieve for the good of the group. By being able to set the rules, developing our own plan and making sure feedback is given before the execution of the plan is crucial to success.
How to find the right balance
These days we are all busy. We have responsibilities to our families, work, children’s activities, or our community. All these are competing for our valuable attention. Sometimes we let our schedule run our lives and set our priorities, as opposed to us taking charge of our schedule and priorities. To find the right balance we should:
- Acknowledge and accept that we cannot do everything all the time. We only have limited resources such as time, energy, and money. While it is great to want to accomplish a lot in life and please several people, we are only one person and cannot always manage to do everything.
- Manage ourselves and not time. There is really no such thing as “time management.” But we can manage our activities. We all have 24 hours in one day. If we can manage ourselves, it would reflect a sense of responsibility in what you do in a day, and in a lifetime. We need to be more proactive, realize our power of choice and know what to do to have control over.
- Set priorities in our activities: Since we can do everything, we need to give up some activities to achieve something more important. To do more of one thing, you must do less of other. We must be willing to cut some activities from your schedule even if just temporarily to accomplish higher priorities.
- Schedule time for yourself. It is wonderful to have other people in our lives we can help, work with, be friends with and share activities with. However, we should be your own best friend first. Be intentional in resting, in playing, in growing. Take time off to read, to walk or to rest. Scheduling time for yourself is a must if you want the best of yourself and ready to tackle your busy schedule.
- Live with purpose! A life oriented around an authentic and passionate purpose is one that is much easier to keep in balance. For this reason, there is no perfect, one-size-fits-all balance plan you should be striving for. The best life balance plan is different for each of us because we all have different priorities and different lives.
Resolutions
Resolutions and goals are challenges, and it gives you the opportunity to grow as a person. If you don’t know who you really are nor understand the reason behind your goals, then you probably won’t stick to them nor be motivated to achieve them. Resolutions can also be reminders of how much I depend on others. Some resolutions that failed can be because you have failed to see something about yourself.
Goals require personal responsibility, but some people do not have the self-awareness to it alone. There is nothing wrong in asking for help. It a good way to start building relationships. When we do this, we don’t just learn about others, we also learn things about ourselves. Being self-aware also allows us to listen more, talk less and have empathy for others. Recommendations from others can help you be more aware about your motivation.
We should all aspire to achieve what is attainable thereby setting SMART Goals. The acronym which stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time. Although others can provide guidance, only you know what you can truly attain. Whether you want to get fit, be a better leader or strengthen family ties, the first step is to start a journal. You also need to consider where you stand, for example as an athlete, businessperson, father or whatever else and set your priorities for the future.
In Belgium for example, the Ennea Boost programme which is supported by Semlex for Education, is a non-profit organization that helps in mentoring young people to achieve their dreams.
If there are other projects that you would like to share with us, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Written by Bhoomattee Surujdin for Semlex for Education.
Resources
[1] Success Magazine- How Self-Awareness Can Help You Unlock Your Motivation– copyright January 2019. [2] Centerstone-How to get your life back– Retrieved from https://centerstone.org/our-resources/health-wellness/life-balance/ [3] Goyette Kerry- Six Motivational Drivers, and How to Unleash Them-copyright September 2019
