What about the motives, goals and the motivation?

Motivation is an internal energy force which affects all aspects of our conduct, and it also affects the manner in which we think, feel and interact. High motivation in sport is widely accepted as a prerequisite for getting athletes to realize their potential. Given its inherently abstract nature, however, it is a force that is often difficult to fully exploit. The concept “motivation” comes from the term “motiv.” Motivation can be defined as an inner state of mind that activates and directs our conduct. It causes us to act. It’s always inside and outsourced through our behaviour. Motivation is the willingness to make efforts to achieve his / her goal.Fred Luthans defined the motivation as “a process that begins with a lack of  physiology or psychology or needs that activates conduct or drive towards a goal or stimulus.’

According to Stephen P. Robbins, “motivation is the willingness to exert a high degree of effort towards organizational goals, conditioned by the ability to meet certain individual needs.”

Nearly every human behavior is motivated. Growing hair does not require motivation, but getting a hair cut does. Motives are prompting people to act. These are therefore at the very heart of the process of motivation. Motives provide an active impulse to achieve a goal. Examples of food and water needs are translated into the drives or motives of hunger and thrust. Likewise, the need for friends becomes an affiliation motive.

In general, motives are aimed at goals. Motives generally create an imbalance in physiology or psychology. Achieving goals restores equilibrium. For example, there is a goal when the man’s body is deprived of food or water or when friends or companions are deprived of his personality.

Components of motivation

Anyone who has ever achieved a goal probably realizes immediately that it’s not enough to simply want to achieve something. Achieving such a goal requires the ability to keep going despite difficulties through obstacles and endurance. Motivation has three main components: activation, persistence, and intensity. Activation involves the decision to start a behavior such as starting fitness classes.

Persistence is an attempt to achieve the goal, although there may be obstacles. An example of persistence would be to spend more time for fitness in the week, though it would cost more time and money. The intensity can be seen in the concentration and vigor with which the goal is pursued. For example, an athlete might spend more time in the gym while another goes to the gym periodically, interested in the impact of different eating regimes, and seeks advices from instructors how to improve his personal performance. The first athlete is definitely lacking in intensity while the second pursues his goals with a high intensity.

Types of motivation

Motivation is the key to success. It gives passion, joy when goals are achieved, and in the face of failure gives optimism. Self-motivated leaders tend to look at energy and persistence as their goals. Strong drive, clear visions and a strong commitment to organizations are all the hallmarks of a self-motivating leader. Self-motivated leaders raise the performance bar for all time and compete with their peers and not just themselves.

 

Intrinsic motivation

This is when “internal” motivation comes to satisfy personal requirements. We do things that we do, not because we have to, but because we enjoy them. In fact, you can be motivated internally when enjoying the fact that you increase your educational knowledge, develop your skills or are interested in a certain field. Examples include exploring opportunities to develop your personal skills to fulfill your task or to establish the standards to become a role model or mentor. Whatever you take on yourself, you do it to achieve it and satisfy yourself.

 

Extrinsic motivation

Motivation comes from “external” factors, which others give or control. Wages or praise are examples for that. This kind of motivation is common and common in society. You are extrinsically motivated when you are motivated to do, achieve, learn or do something based on a highly regarded result instead of for fun, development or personal accomplishment.

 

 

 

Motivational techniques for coaches and athletes

 

Goal setting

Athletes should be encouraged to set some ambitious but achievable long-term goals. They are more likely to accept the challenges that lie ahead and pursue the goals with enthusiasm by set their own goals. They should also set appropriate medium-term goals in order to keep athletes on track with their long-term goals. Therefore, short-term goals should be predominantly process-oriented. Goals must be regularly monitored and revised. One of the biggest mistakes coaches make in setting goals is that their approach is often too rigid.

 

Using extrinsic rewards

The key aspect in the effective use of extrinsic rewards is to reinforce the athlete’s sense of competence and self-worth. Therefore, rather than controlling, a reward should be informational in nature. Care should also be taken with the use of external motivators, as they may undermine internal motivation. To be informational about a reward, it is advisable that it has relatively little monetary value (i.e. it is a token reward), such as the title of a “player of the match.” The reward should also be presented to an athlete with some emphasis on the prestige associated with it in front of all potential recipients. Other popular ways to use token rewards include the names of athletes on annual boards of honors.

 

Motivational music

A particularly good way to motivate athletes is through the use of music they perceive to be inspirational in training and before the competition. If you noticed, in many fitness centers sounds music, that works to inspire people as they train in the halls. Brunel University research suggests that this approach increases work output, reduces perceived exertion, and improves the effect on the task–the pleasure experienced during the activity.

 

Positive self-talk

Positive self-talk is a technique that can be used to increase motivation across a variety of fields of achievement. It uses the powerful inner voice of an athlete to strengthen their self-esteem or important performance aspects. Self-talk can change the belief system of an athlete positively with appropriate repetition.

 

 

 

SUMMARY

Each of us has an untapped source of energy which can be drawn to produce superior outcomes. Improving motivation basically involves changing attitudes, developing a positive “can do” attitude, and engaging in systematic behaviors–the goals of the short-term process–that facilitate improvement. You will have considerable influence on how motivated your athletes or team might feel if you have a leadership role in sport. A good work ethic can be established, individual efforts recognized and the structure of transparent rewards that strengthen human skills. The techniques for motivation should be modeled on specific circumstances and individual needs to work best.