Motivation is the direction and intensity of one's effort. The direction of effort refers to whether a person seeks out, approaches, or is attracted to certain situations. The intensity of effort refers to how much effort a person puts forth in a certain situation. It is important to have motivation in sports and everyday life. Without it, a person will not have the drive to do what needs to be done. There are ways of building and enhancing motivation in others. This blog will outline 5 guidelines to help you do this.
1. Consider Both Situations and Traits in Motivating People
2. Understand People's Multiple Motives for Involvement
3. Change the Environment to Enhance Motivation
4. Influence Motivation
5. Use Behavior Modifications to Change Participants' Undesirable Motivations
1. Consider Both Situations and Traits in Motivating People
When you are trying to enhance someone's motivation, you should consider both situational and personal factors. Sometimes, coaches blame students by saying that their lack of motivation is based on their personal characteristics. On the other hand, some coaches blame themselves for the students' lack of motivation. However, it is usually a combination of both of these factors.
2. Understand People's Multiple Motives for Involvement
It is very important to identify why people participate in physical activity. There are several key points that you should think about when you think about what motivates you and others. People participate for more than one reason. A person might do something because they want to get in better shape, but it might also be fun for them to do. People have competing motives for involvement. Sometimes, people have two things that they want to do. Fpr example, some people want to work out, but also have work that needs to be done. Try to think of the days when you want to work out but you have something else that needs to be done too.
3. Change the Environment to Enhance Motivation
You should always learn why people get involved in their sport. Then you have to take that information to fit their environment. For example, some students have the desire to compete, while others would just like to do it recreationally. Teaching and coaching environments should meet the needs of all participants.
4. Influence Motivation
Coaches and other exercise leaders are very important when it comes to influencing motivation in students' or players' motivation. Sometimes, you won't even realize that you are being an influence. Your actions on a good or bad day can influence the environment and either increase or decrease motivation.
5. Use Behavior Modification to Change Participants' Undesirable Motives
Sometimes, people join sports for the wrong reasons. For example, some people join martial arts because they want to be able to hit people and beat them up. This is not what martial arts is about, so that behavior has to be changed. Teaching them that martial arts is about controlling oneself and learning self defense are a few ways that this behavior can be changed.
If you are having trouble getting your students motivated during class or practice, think about these guidelines. As you are teaching or coaching, open your eyes and analyze your students and see if you can use these guidelines to help influence motivation in them. You may have to change a few things to see results, but the outcome will be worth it!
References
1. Consider Both Situations and Traits in Motivating People
2. Understand People's Multiple Motives for Involvement
3. Change the Environment to Enhance Motivation
4. Influence Motivation
5. Use Behavior Modifications to Change Participants' Undesirable Motivations
1. Consider Both Situations and Traits in Motivating People
When you are trying to enhance someone's motivation, you should consider both situational and personal factors. Sometimes, coaches blame students by saying that their lack of motivation is based on their personal characteristics. On the other hand, some coaches blame themselves for the students' lack of motivation. However, it is usually a combination of both of these factors.
2. Understand People's Multiple Motives for Involvement
It is very important to identify why people participate in physical activity. There are several key points that you should think about when you think about what motivates you and others. People participate for more than one reason. A person might do something because they want to get in better shape, but it might also be fun for them to do. People have competing motives for involvement. Sometimes, people have two things that they want to do. Fpr example, some people want to work out, but also have work that needs to be done. Try to think of the days when you want to work out but you have something else that needs to be done too.
3. Change the Environment to Enhance Motivation
You should always learn why people get involved in their sport. Then you have to take that information to fit their environment. For example, some students have the desire to compete, while others would just like to do it recreationally. Teaching and coaching environments should meet the needs of all participants.
4. Influence Motivation
Coaches and other exercise leaders are very important when it comes to influencing motivation in students' or players' motivation. Sometimes, you won't even realize that you are being an influence. Your actions on a good or bad day can influence the environment and either increase or decrease motivation.
5. Use Behavior Modification to Change Participants' Undesirable Motives
Sometimes, people join sports for the wrong reasons. For example, some people join martial arts because they want to be able to hit people and beat them up. This is not what martial arts is about, so that behavior has to be changed. Teaching them that martial arts is about controlling oneself and learning self defense are a few ways that this behavior can be changed.
If you are having trouble getting your students motivated during class or practice, think about these guidelines. As you are teaching or coaching, open your eyes and analyze your students and see if you can use these guidelines to help influence motivation in them. You may have to change a few things to see results, but the outcome will be worth it!
References
- Weinberg, Robert S, and Daniel Gould. Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1995. Print.