Choosing your motivation
by Dr Tatiana Gabruseva (aka Tati Gabru)
When I was studying at the ILM Leadership and Management program back in 2014, we had the whole session and tests dedicated to motivation. I had to write an essay about what motivates people and how to motivate subordinates at work as a leader and a manager.
So, I did. The essay contained the whole set of motivational factors, both short-term (like salary increase) and long-term (like self-esteem). The list was long, including but limited to money, status, power, flexibility, ownership, home-life balance, impact, and others. I made a step further and matched common “motivators” with cultural traits and socio-economic policies. For instance, a 20% salary increase in a socialistic country with over 50% higher tax limit does not motivate that much, as in a capitalistic country with lower tax boundaries, for example. You are unlikely to encourage people working more for salary prospects in Ireland or Sweden, but one can use salary increases effectively in India or Belarus.
Then, I mapped the stimuli-motivators to personal traits as well. Based on what I could see around me, people from families of blue-collar workers are more likely to be fussy about status and power. That “status” might be important for them to prove themselves. At the same time artists or professors, curious about art and science, might not give a damn about “status” and avoid all-that-power-thing as much as possible. Women with small children may seek a good work-life balance, not the power, success and “career” prospects, but not necessarily of course. Just a general understanding, that everybody is motivated by opposite things is useful.
It was a good essay, and I passed. Later I found it was not quite right. It was not deep.
Years later in 2017, I was walking a famous sacred Kumano Kodo trail in Japan. While trekking along in the sunset and looking at the endless Takayama mountains, I could see it as clear as a day, there are two main sources of motivation in life: FEAR or LOVE. It is that simple.
There are things that you do because of fear, and there are things that you do because of love. Out of fear, you stock up on food, money, stocks, auctions… For love, spend your time with friends and family, give money to your mom and children. Out of love, you help, you care, you give…
Because of fear, you lock the doors, install locks and fences, you hide and close yourself. Out of love, you open up to the world, you trust people, believe and hope. Because of love, you call your parents, meet with friends, learn to listen, understand and forgive.
Because of fear, people go to a job they hate, every single day, and pretend that they like it, as they are so afraid to lose it. For love, people create ingenious art, holly their hobbies, grow beautiful flowers in their gardens and make patchworks.
Because of fear, people are lying to others, fool themselves and try to manipulate. For love, people forgive themselves and others, confess, open up to the truth, follow the heart.
Out of fear, people learn skills that don’t truly interest them but are needed on a job market. Out of love, people read interesting books, practice yoga, learn, grow and meditate.
Out of fear, you betray yourself, go against your principles, you deceive, cheat, and lie. For love, you listen to yourself, follow your heart, do what you want, help others, and act honestly.
Out of fear, you get insurance, make investments, create deposits, store the dead energy, everything for “the rainy day”. Arts, motherhood, creativity, discovery, meditation, learning and understanding grow out of love.
Some go to work out of fear, and it’s easy to “motivate” and control them, through salary, status, power, stocks, you name it… But some go there out of love. You cannot motivate or control them, but you don’t have to.
What motivation to follow: do things out of fear or out of love — this is your choice!
LOVE is a true motivation for everything meaningful and wonderful. But FEAR is also needed. Fear is the cause to set safety measures.
A climber gets to the mountain following love, but he sets robes and hooks because of fear. And those robes and hooks are needed. Otherwise, you’ll die if you fall. Therefore, it’s ok to make things out of fear, but one should not forget, they are just safety measures. The main motivation for choices should grow out of love. And nothing else.
with love,
Tati Gabru
