Understanding Motivation at Work

Motivation in a work context is defined as the internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to their job, tasks and to the organisations vision and mission.

It is beneficial to become aware of the conditions which enable you to demonstrate your full potential and perform at your very best. Understanding yourself and the key driving forces behind what makes you tick will help clarify what positions you would be most suited for and what kind of work may lead to greater job satisfaction and engagement. 

Motivation and your career

Knowing what motivates you is important to being employable:

• You are more likely to be motivated in an environment which matches your personal values.
• You are more likely to be motivated by what you prefer doing, feel energised by or are good at.
• It gives employers clues to your attitude, character and how to get the best from you.
• Employers want to know your ‘why’ because motivation is one of the ingredients essential to performance

Internal Motivation

Motivation is internal, it is an energy that comes from within and it sets out why you do the things you do and what you choose to do. If you are preparing for an interview or perhaps making a career change, ask yourself these questions to narrow down what motivates you.

• When am I at my best? How do I behave when I am at my best? What mindset do I have?
• What is my natural disposition? Am I more optimistic or pessimistic? How does it help me?
• When have my personal values helped drive me to successfully achieve something?
• When have I gone beyond what is expected of me? What would I do for free?
• What have I done of my own volition to improve myself?
• What demotivates me? How do I feel? How do I behave? How do I cope?

External Motivation

Motivation is also external and it also influences your behaviour. You find things motivating when that energy and commitment is released by the conditions or environment you’re in. From the examples below, identify which factors motivate you the most. Add to the list as necessary and this will help give you the blueprint when deciding on a new job or career pathway.

• Enough income (to pay the bills, pursue outside work interests)
• Stability and security
• Belonging, acceptance, being part of a group, team spirit
• Recognition from others, reputation, prestige, appreciation
• Belief in your potential, investment in your growth, personal support
• Development and advancement opportunities
• Having responsibility, authority, power
• Able to participate, voice your views, be heard
• A culture of learning, discovery, creativity, possibility, empowerment, trust

 

Did you know?!

In a study focusing on employee motivation, over 600 managers identified money, safety, security and pressure as the driving force behind why employees work. Guess what? 95% of them were incorrect!

The most important motivator for employees at work is referred to as ‘the power of small wins’ and what this mean is that employees are highly productive and driven to perform at their best when they feel as if they’re making progress every day toward a meaningful goal.

Get to know what matters to you - your interests, values, desires, work objectives and career aspirations. Then be sure to balance this with what matters to others - very few objectives are achieved without taking others into account. That is usually a good way to make sure that you are not only valuable but also invaluable.

The Top 4 Qualities Desired by Managers

There is more to you than just your skills and experience. What your interviewer is really trying to work out is how you interact in a workplace situation.  Make sure you demonstrate these 4 qualities that are desired by hiring managers in your next interview.

1) Self- motivation: 

Employers want to hire someone who has the drive and enthusiasm to succeed in whatever task they do. Show the interviewer your desire to be successful and how you can set goals in order to get the job done. It’s all about high energy levels and productivity! Things that you can talk about in an interview that demonstrate self-motivation could be:

• being a an active member of a professional organisation
• taking part in a short course to enhance your professional development
• being involved with a volunteer organisation
• taking on extra responsibilities in previous positions, or
• providing an example of a personal goal that you have set yourself and worked hard to achieve. This could be anything from sporting achievements, saving for a house or even fundraising for a charity.

2) Flexibility: 

Your abilities in adapting to new and changing environments are key to making a big impression on your potential boss. Therefore, try to demonstrate situations where you have shown flexibility in the workplace. This could have been that time where you adapted to a new procedure in the workplace, were open to change, picked up extra hours for the benefit of your team or when you persisted through unforeseen issues on a project. Demonstrating these things will highlight that you are not resistant to change and can move with the business.

3) Creativity: 

Employers are sizing you up, trying to figure out if you can add value to their workplace. Even if your job isn’t an inherently creative one, there were probably still a myriad of times where you have had to think outside the box. Think of a time where you added value to the way in which your workplace functions. Chances are you had to be creative and generate a new strategy or idea. Take advantage of this and show your potential employer how you can bring fresh ideas to take their company to the next level.

4) Integrity: 

Employers want to hire people who are honest and reliable. Focus on providing examples of when you have dealt with sensitive and confidential issues; or, when you have had to handle an ethical dilemma. Perhaps one of the greatest ways to show your integrity is to remain authentic and honest throughout your application and interview. In other words: be yourself!

So, get ahead of your competition the next time you’re going for that big job interview by demonstrating these 4 desirable qualities.

How to Sell Yourself in a Job Interview: Succeeding Over the Rest! 6 Simple Steps for Success

In a job interview, you might like to fancy yourself as a salesperson. The product? Yourself! You must have enough confidence in yourself and your abilities to succeed over the rest. As Allied Health professionals, one thing that does not come naturally is the ability to sell yourself. Unfortunately it is not good enough to be highly skilled at what you do, you need to be highly skilled at telling others of your skills! Here are 6 simple steps to selling yourself to get that job!

1. Find out exactly what your interviewer wants: 

Do your research and come prepared. Don’t be caught out not knowing everything a potential employee needs to know.  This may mean thoroughly reviewing the company’s website, looking up articles in online newspaper archives, all the way through to connecting with current employees of the company before the interview and asking some strategic questions about what the company values and is looking for.

2. Do not flood your interviewer with irrelevant past experience: 

Although it is great that you have a list of past experiences, your interviewer is interested in what skills you have that they can utilise. Keep it simple, to the point and only mention the recent experiences you have that are particularly relevant to the field you are interviewing for. Try to avoid the narrative and 'story' approach in an interview. Keep it crisp, short, and "headlines and bullet points". Know when to STOP in an answer.

3. Believe in yourself: 

Just like in sales, if the salesperson does not believe in their product, they are going to have a hard time convincing others to believe in the produce, or coming across as genuine. An employer will only hire somebody they have confidence in. They are not likely to be confident about a person who isn’t even confident in themselves. So believe in yourself and present a positive vibe. An interviewer will remember an interview that was a pleasant experience for them.

4. Never give up: 

This does not mean be a pest to your potential employer. Be patient and keep following up on the application process- not only does that show that you’re interested in the job, but it will also give you an opportunity to source out other openings if you are not successful this time around. This can be as simple as a follow-up email a day or two after your interview.

5. Be enthusiastic about the job:  

Being enthusiastic about the company and the job you wish to apply for shows your potential employer that employing you will benefit them. You may wish to couch your interview responses in terms of "benefit statements". Perhaps you can identify how you can help the company achieve its goals through the role you are being interviewed for. If you are enthusiastic and show that you care about the success of the company, the potential employer is inclined to think you are in it for the long haul and are not just applying for the job to work at until something better comes along.

6. Let the interviewer know you are available: 

Once you have nailed your interview, let your interviewer know that if they require any further information that you are easily contactable. Inform them of when you are available to begin so they are confident you are able to take up the position at a time that suits them if you are successful. Be sure to put a "messagebank" longer than 10 seconds on your phone, and don't answer calls with "yeah?"
                                              

The 5 Ps of Preparing for a Video Interview

Many companies are increasingly utilising video interviews as a means of making the recruitment process more time and cost efficient. As hiring is becoming a more global process, video interviewing has become an easier way for both employers and employees to speed up the process. What a lot of interviewees are unaware of, however, is that on average only 7% of all communication is verbal.  Tone of voice, how you present yourself, and body language are therefore essential components of communication, especially when you are being video interviewed.

So how can you best prepare and nail that video interview?

Place
Try finding an area for your interview with a plain background. Although an ‘office/study’ area might look nice, it can be distracting to the interviewers. Beforehand, try to record a mock interview in this area to see how the interviewers will see you. Practicing also allows you to prepare for speaking into a microphone clearly and maintaining eye contact with the camera (and not the screen).

Position
Position yourself in front of a camera that is at the same height as the top of your head. This will give the hiring staff a professional view of you. In addition, be aware of your posture and ensure you don’t slouch, squirm, or look bored. Instead, seat yourself just as you would if you were in the interviewer’s office.

Presentation
Even though you’re behind a camera, take the time to brush your hair, clean your face, and dress in business attire. In addition, check the lighting before the interview and clean that smudge off the camera lens to ensure that you are visible. Present to the camera as though you are making eye contact with the interviewer.

Preparation
If it is a live interview, ensure that you have all the materials you might need in front of you at least 10-15 minutes in advance. In addition, double check all internet, camera, and microphone connections to ensure no technological issues arise during the interview. Turn off your mobile (or at least on silent and out of your sight) and minimise the amount of distractions that could occur via family members, pets, etc. 

Pacing
Take your time when composing your answers. There can be a transmission delay when doing a video interview, so pace your speech at a slightly slower rhythm whenever there is an internet connection involved. Nodding when you have heard the question and waiting three seconds before you respond is a useful strategy to overcome interruptions due to lagging internet connections.

As the chances of being interviewed by video is becoming more and more likely, being well prepared in advance can help increase the probability of securing a job. Even though you may be in the comfort of your own home, remember that it is no less formal than a regular interview. Therefore, make sure you treat it as if you were actually in the employer’s office.


Voice Advantage, is our recently launched sleek and advanced interviewing platform
As a job seeker, you can interview via phone or video (depending on your tech) in your own time. To try it out, take a quick 3 minute demo here.

Finally, remember to be confident and GOOD LUCK!

Job Interviews: The Dos and Don’ts of Confidence

For most of us, job interviews are an essential (though sometimes terrifying) part of life. Most people realise that presenting yourself confidently in interviews is often necessary to land the job… but it’s a lot easier said than done! Here are a few ideas to get you looking (and feeling) more confident for your next interview.

DO	DON’T
Start with an assuring handshake Don’t be afraid to initiate the handshake. This is probably the easiest way to show your interviewer that you are comfortable interacting with them. It also demonstrates that you know basic social skills… bonus!	Scare them! All the rumours you may have heard about making sure you’re not the one to end a handshake or holding eye contact forever won’t help here. Just a crisp, friendly greeting and a “great to meet you!” will do.
Dress for the job you want Finding out what the dress code is and planning your job-winning outfit accordingly is a great idea, and even if their staff wear t-shirts and jeans, be sure to still arrive in a suit. An interview and a standard day at work are two very different things.	Dress for a fashion show Try not to stun people with your fanciest suit if the workplace is quite casual, as you want to look like you’ll fit in. Ladies, save the nightclub attire for Friday night, as it won’t score you any points in an interview.
Use body language It's well known that body language goes a long way in first impressions, so in a job-interview your body language should convey to the interviewer just how right you are for the job! Sit upright and lean forward, make eye contact, and avoid fidgeting.	Overpower or slouch Don’t overdo your hand movements to a point where it looks like you might knock your interviewer out! On the other hand, it is important to avoid looking too comfortable. The aim is to look like you’re comfortable being interviewed, not like you’re relaxing on the couch watching TV.
Listen and communicate openly Whilst you might feel like the entire world can hear just how nervous you are from your shaking voice, in reality you probably sound perfectly normal. Speak clearly and take your time answering questions, but most importantly be sure to listen carefully before blurting things out. Most of us have a tendency to speed talk when we’re under pressure, so just take a deep breath and think about what you’re going to say… before you say it!	Try to take control of the conversation If you’re going to be working for this person, make sure that the relationship starts early. Don’t interrupt or give them irrelevant answers they didn’t ask for. The interviewer will have several things they need to know from you, so make sure that you're actually giving them what they asked for and not just pre-prepared answers.
Practice and research Read over their About Us web page and find out what the business is up to. Be sure to note their values and culture. Once done, think of some questions that might pop up in the interview, and prepare your answers for these. Even though you’ll feel silly, practice in front of the mirror. Then when the question arises, you’ll come across as cool, calm, collected… and confident!	Become a stalker or a know it all Being able to tell your interviewer details about their staff who aren’t the managing director or founder won’t let them know how suitable you are to work there. And trying to show that you know more than them about the company’s current affairs without adding some experiential value is going to make you look obsessive rather than interested. Research, but don’t try to force the idea that you already work there.

When all else fails, follow the law of ‘fake it til you make it’. Find out for yourself what you think confidence means in the particular industry or role you’re applying for, and then practice using that presence. Being comfortable and being confident do not have to be the same thing, so use the assertive body language and communication that makes you stand out and then any little jitters or slips won’t phase your interviewer at all.

Good luck and happy hunting!