Sharpen your emotional edge.

Welcome back to "The EQ Edge". Last week, we explored motivation through Daniel Pink’s theory on ‘drive’('The EQ Edge | Motivation -Part 1'). Today, we shift our lens, exploring this feeling through Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).

During my NLP studies, one instructor consistently radiated motivation. There wasn’t a day when he wasn’t energized. How, you ask? 

The power of 'anchoring'.

He proudly shared his secret. Before every class, this instructor stood before a mirror, performing a series of fist pumps paired with motivational words. This, wasn’t mere ritual; what he did was to leverage his mind's neuroplasticity and shape his responses to specific triggers. In NLP terms, we call this practice 'anchoring'. In essence, he had conditioned his brain to link the high motivation from past experiences with this fist pump gesture.

Now, who doesn't want to access motivation on the go? And how can you use this knowledge to bring motivation to your team? Let's dive in.

 Emotion Spotlight

MOTIVATION

Our daily experiences are made from a series of sensory inputs: what we've seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted. These sensory inputs shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions:

1. Visual (Saw): Think of an athlete visualizing winning a race. This mental imagery can fuel immense motivation as they prepare for competition.
2. Auditory (Heard): An encouraging word or a specific piece of music can uplift us, energizing our actions.
3. Kinaesthetic (Felt): The sensation of completing a challenging task or the physical act of writing down goals can stir motivation.
4. Olfactory (Smelled) and Gustatory (Tasted): Certain smells or tastes might evoke powerful memories, driving us to recreate those experiences or pursue related goals.

Every decision, every spark of motivation, arises from this dance of sensory stimuli, thoughts, and feelings.

Anchoring MOTIVATION in Leadership

For leaders, the 'anchoring' concept offers a blueprint to nurture team motivation. By deliberately associating positive experiences with recognition or achievements, leaders can create lasting motivational touchpoints. The key is to connect these with frequency and impact:

1. Frequency: Consistent acknowledgment deepens the impact.
2. Impact: Specific praise over generic recognition heightens its resonance.

Celebrate team achievements as they not only mark milestones but also create collective motivational anchors. When faced with challenges, these memories will ignite a renewed drive.

Bonus action for leaders: try pairing celebration with a sensory-rich environment - using visual aids(visual token of appreciation, a memorable visual presentation, etc), or even indulging in a special treat - and you will make these moments stand out even more.

🌟 Weekly Exercise:

Consider the times you've felt immensely motivated. What was happening? Where were you? Who were you with? Once you have a vivid image, establish an anchor for yourself. This could be any gesture that you wouldn’t normally do(exclusive to your anchor), a specific song, phrase or even touching a specific object(make sure it's accessible). Over the next week, every time you feel a wave of motivation, use your anchor. Then, in moments of lull, employ your anchor and notice the shift in your energy. Remember, repetition is key for the mind to connect your anchor to motivation!

That's a wrap on motivation! 

As always, I'd love to know which approach you found insightful/useful/practical. I appreciate your sharing of thoughts and experiences.

Until next week, 

📣 Reminder: Slots are open for the "Emotion Power Hour(60min consultation)" this November. Hit reply with "EPH" to know more.

📣 Registration for the LeadEQ Jan/Feb 2024 cohort begins on November 20th. Keep an eye out!

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