00:00:00: Introduction
00:05:39: Construction for motivation
00:07:03: Goal…
00:07:50: … concept for motion: overlook goal
00:10:46: … concept for motion: inspiring quotes
00:13:22: Mastery…
00:13:28: … concept for motion: write a social media submit
00:18:57: … concept for motion: 5 small adjustments
00:21:50: Autonomy…
00:24:26: … concept for motion: a no-contact work window
00:27:02: … concept for motion: media, mindset and motion
00:34:38: Utilizing ChatGPT
00:39:00: Ultimate ideas
Sarah Ellis: Hello, I am Sarah.
Helen Tupper: And I am Helen.
Sarah Ellis: And that is the Squiggly Careers podcast. Each week, we speak about a subject to do with work and share some concepts and actions that we hope will provide help to to navigate this Squiggly Profession that we’re all having with a bit extra confidence, readability and management.
Helen Tupper: And in addition to the dialog that we will have at this time, you may as well get numerous extra help too. So we create PodSheets, that are one-page summaries that will help you to take motion; we now have PodMail to make it simple to entry all of our sources, that comes out each Tuesday morning; and we even have PodPlus, which is a weekly free session the place you’ll be able to speak concerning the subjects that we talk about within the podcast with a like-minded neighborhood of learners. It’s all free and it is all a part of our mission to make careers higher for everyone.
So, all of these hyperlinks will probably be within the present notes, or you’ll be able to simply go to our web site, amazingif.com, and you’ll discover all of it there. So, at this time’s matter is about micro moments of motivation, as in what small issues can we do to really feel a bit higher about what we’re engaged on and the best way we’re working and the way we’re getting our work carried out, in case it is perhaps feeling a bit troublesome proper now.
And I assume the thought for this podcast has come from the place Sarah and I are each at proper now, kind of halfway by the yr, and in addition from some suggestions we have had from numerous learners which can be on our programs about how they’re feeling. It is this kind of midway into the yr, in order that considered the vitality of New 12 months’s resolutions is lengthy gone, and there is nonetheless fairly a very long time to go. I believe I speak to lots of people now, they usually’re kind of anchoring themselves to a summer season vacation. I really feel prefer it’s just like the summer season vacation’s in sight, they usually simply want a little bit of a lift to get them to that time. And that simply looks like the truth of numerous conversations that I am having with folks proper now. So, we thought that perhaps some micro moments of motivation would possibly convey these issues somewhat bit nearer for you, provide help to get there somewhat bit extra rapidly and simply. Sarah, how are you feeling halfway by the yr? What’s your motivation ranges like?
Sarah Ellis: Nicely, not wonderful, I believe it is honest to say, although I do assume a few of these issues are virtually day by day. It may possibly oscillate daily relying on how your day’s gone and what’s occurred. However I assume in case your vitality reserves are decrease, then it impacts you faster. I believe that is what I discover, is that in all probability some issues which may beforehand you would be like, “Oh, yeah, that is fantastic, that is not ideally suited, however I will transfer on to the subsequent factor”, have a better influence on me and takes me a bit longer to get better. So even yesterday, my day was going fairly nicely, however I had a disastrous prepare journey which then meant I missed a gathering that I needed to go to. So, I used to be disillusioned I did not get to see anyone and I would labored actually laborious to seek out the time to make that assembly occur. My prepare journey was so disastrous, at one level the prepare simply began going backwards.
It was like, “We’re simply going to return, we will return”, and I used to be like, “Proper, can we not, can we not go backwards?” and it was boiling as nicely. I used to be in a non-air-conditioned prepare and I believe it was about 26°, 27°, so I used to be simply sweaty and going within the incorrect course. And whenever you’re similar to, “Oh, God, I might actually do with out this”? And it was humorous, as a result of really then after I lastly received to the station I wanted to go to having missed that assembly, I used to be then taking a look at this and fascinated with concepts, and I undoubtedly began from fairly a low level of like, “I am not even motivated to consider motivation”. After which by the point I would gone by this and I’ve really took some actions in a really quick window of time, in kind of a 24-hour window, it did make me really feel higher, I felt like I would made some progress.
I would kind of rebooted sufficient. Like right here, I do not assume we’re speaking about huge re-energising moments. I believe we’re speaking about rebooting sufficient in order that the subsequent day is usually a bit higher. I additionally assume it is necessary to say that we’re not speaking right here about burnout in a extra important method, burnout the place you’re feeling like, I assume, the place you get extra to the purpose of apathy, otherwise you really feel such as you simply do not care and you are not related or dedicated. I do assume that may be a totally different factor. I believe we’re speaking right here about when your day-to-day simply feels somewhat bit more durable than it usually would do; and in addition, such as you described, I get a bit like — as a result of I wish to look forward, I’ve received a vacation coming and I am like, “I simply must get to the vacation”. And I do not actually like that feeling, as a result of I nonetheless wish to do the day-to-day rather well, however it may possibly really feel actually troublesome whenever you’re similar to, “I’ve simply received to final per week”, which is mainly somewhat bit how I am feeling proper now. How about you?
Helen Tupper: Yeah, I agree, it isn’t the burnout factor and it isn’t the do-this-for-ever factor, it is kind of a get you to a date, or for me it is much less of a vacation, it is a deadline. So, we have some actually necessary deadlines arising and I really feel like they’re fairly laborious for us to hit for varied causes, and so I really feel like I would like some micro moments of motivation simply to simply to maintain going to these deadlines.
I really feel like if I add these into my day, it’s going to simply make it a bit simpler to get to that time limit. After which as soon as I’ve achieved that, I really feel like I’ve virtually hit a little bit of reset and I will not want so a lot of this stuff. However I believe whether or not you have received a date, like a vacation, or a deadline, or perhaps it is a conclusion of a challenge, generally we simply want a little bit of a lift which can be sort of simple issues to suit into our day. That is the place I am in the mean time. I am not likely feeling low motivation, however I do really feel a little bit of strain to realize a couple of issues, and due to this fact a bit of additional motivation is simply going to make that really feel a bit simpler for me.
Sarah Ellis: Would not go amiss.
Helen Tupper: Yeah precisely, precisely that. Why would not you do a few of these issues? So, to be able to offer you some simple, tried and examined by Sarah and me, actions, we’re going to take Dan Pink’s construction for motivation as a little bit of a information for the episode. And we are going to hyperlink to his TED speak and his e-book in our PodSheet if you happen to’ve not seen his work on drive, however I’ve at all times discovered it actually helpful after I’m unpacking motivation. It buildings it round these three areas. So, there’s goal, which is about working in direction of one thing that is sort of significant and looks like extra than simply you. So, that may very well be the workforce or that may very well be what the organisation is making an attempt to realize, or one thing you are enthusiastic about past simply doing the do. So, goal is the primary ingredient.
The second is mastery, and that is about feeling like you’re frequently enhancing the abilities you wish to be identified for. And the third ingredient is autonomy. And that is about having a way of management over the what, when, and the way of your work. And whenever you put these three elements collectively, goal, mastery, and autonomy, what you get out is drive and motivation. So, we thought we might take every space, and Sarah will speak about a tip that helps her, and I’ll speak about a tip that helps me, as a result of if you happen to’re an everyday listener, you’ll know that we go about this stuff very in another way. However hopefully in that, so you may get six suggestions in complete, in that, there will probably be a micro second of motivation that you would be able to match into your week, this week at work.
Sarah Ellis: So, beginning off with goal, and I believe that is whenever you maybe really feel a bit disconnected from the why, the why behind your work. Possibly you have misplaced sight a little bit of the objectives that you simply’re aiming in direction of, and perhaps you are feeling only a bit aimless; or, I believe extra possible, perhaps you are simply very busy being busy. I do not speak to that many people who find themselves like, “I do not really feel any sense of course”.
Which may occur in some unspecified time in the future, however most of us I believe simply have these weeks or these days the place you are like, there’s a lot to ship or so many duties to tick off a to-do checklist, this concept of getting goal simply feels virtually method too lofty, like actually really very totally different to our actuality day-to-day. So, my concept right here is definitely to overlook goal, as a result of I do assume generally there’s an excessive amount of strain on goal to really feel purposeful, to really feel such as you’re making an attempt to do one thing with goal. I do not assume on daily basis might be actually purposeful. So, I like this concept, which comes from Dan Cable’s work; he is been on our podcast earlier than. He is a professor at London Enterprise College the place he talks about connecting with issues moderately than goal. So, he talks about this concept of, like, comply with your blisters. So, these issues that really, they’re a bit painful as a result of they do rub like a blister would do, however you’ll be able to’t assist however preserve doing it, preserve going after it, virtually going by the ache?
He describes it, and I used to be like, “Oh, it is a bit gross”, however he describes it like going by the ache of a blister to get to the powerful pores and skin, and I used to be like, “Oh, vivid!” It’s kind of gross, however I get what he is speaking about. I believe really that generally actually helps me, as a result of , we now have a really clear mission, we now have very clear objectives in our firm, however I believe generally the factor that retains me going is nearly the nagging, niggly issues that we have not solved but, and it annoys me that we have not.
I generally assume I actually wish to let go of these issues, and I want my persona was totally different, however it’s not. I care about fixing that downside. And generally it may very well be a lot smaller issues, like the best way one thing seems to be or a course of or how we method one thing. And he describes it really as virtually one thing that you would be able to’t let go of. So, even if you happen to assume, “I would moderately be doing one thing extra enjoyable”, you continue to preserve going again to, “Oh, however that downside is chipping away in my thoughts”. And I really discover having readability on issues to unravel is usually simpler than goal.
That, I believe, usually feels extra zoomed out and a much bigger query. However even if you happen to simply requested your self, “What’s one downside I might remedy at this time?” and that may very well be a very, actually small downside, that may very well be, “Reordering my priorities”, that is an issue to unravel at this time. Or one downside I wish to remedy is, I’m going to choose up the telephone to anyone as a result of I must have a dialog about one thing, to unravel that downside. So, it isn’t once more like massive, massive issues. It is simply, “An issue I’ll remedy at this time is…”, after which simply try to remedy that downside. And I believe it lets you really feel such as you’re making progress. Nicely, it helps me.
Helen Tupper: I like the purpose you mentioned concerning the sort of zooming out factor as nicely, as a result of I additionally assume the thought of waking up and going, “How can I reside my goal at this time?” looks like, I imply I am filled with admiration for individuals who try this, however usually I am like, “What have I received to do at this time?” is generally my first thought. However I believe goal and the thought of zooming out is what connects for me. And so, doing one thing that makes you zoom out of that default, “What do I must do at this time?” is the sort of issues that work for me as these kind of micro moments of motivation. Now my tip right here may not be for everyone, however that is what works for me. So, I actually like, Sarah will in all probability shake her head in a second, I actually like an inspiring quote and I do know which may appear a bit trite.
Sarah Ellis: I already learn this and ignored it!
Helen Tupper: So, for me although, after I’m zoomed in, it turns into very about my lists and my inbox and my duties. And after I zoom out and I learn somebody’s quotes, it helps me assume in another way and assume a bit larger and it will get me away from simply the — I at all times speak about this distinction between the human doing versus a human being. There are specific quotes that I learn that I believe, “Really, that’s how I wish to work and that’s what I would like my work to appear like, and that is what is significant to me”.
And I usually discover that some sure quotes can join me to that feeling, that sense of what I would like my work to be like, what’s one thing that is larger than simply what I am making an attempt to do at this time. So, for instance, one which I not too long ago learn from Stephen Hawking that simply caught with me, it is a longish one, it isn’t a super-snappy one, however I favored it, “Bear in mind to lookup on the stars and never down at your toes. Attempt to make sense of what you see and surprise about what makes the universe exist. Be curious and nevertheless troublesome life could appear, there’s at all times one thing you are able to do and succeed at. It issues that you do not surrender”. And I learn that and go, “Oh, that isn’t about my inbox, it is about being curious and never giving up and at all times making an attempt to do higher and make sense of what I am seeing.
And I hooked up myself to that. And it is fast. To the purpose of micro moments of motivation, it is fast. What I’ve carried out really in prepping for this podcast, it jogged my memory, I used to have this little purple pocket book, actually cute little Smythson pocket book, I like a pleasant pocket book. And I might write every time I might accumulate these quotes in it. It is half full and I finished doing it for some purpose. I believe I modified my bag and left it after which received out of the behavior of it. However I flicked by that e-book, and all of those quotes that I like I would curated them in there, and that may be a super-shortcut, as a result of generally you need to discover the quote to be able to be impressed by it, it takes a bit longer, however if you happen to accumulate and curate them, then you definately’ve received a very fast go-to for quotes. And this isn’t making an attempt to promote our e-book, however we did accumulate numerous actually good quotes. In each our first e-book, The Squiggly Profession, and our second e-book, You Coach You, there are some actually, I believe, good quotes.
I believe, Sarah, you collected a great deal of these, they usually at all times resonate with me. So, that is a little bit of a — I assume we have carried out a little bit of a curation for you however I believe one of the best is whenever you sort of accumulate and curate it your self. However yeah, that is what works for me for my goal second of motivation. So, the second space then is mastery. So, that is about frequently enhancing the abilities that you simply wish to be identified for. And my concept for motion on right here additionally will not swimsuit Sarah, it is about writing a social media submit.
However the purpose this works for me is, and the explanation it helps with my mastery is, if I’ll write a submit, it does not need to be a LinkedIn submit, it may very well be an electronic mail that you simply ship to your workforce or one thing you set in your intranet, however it’s the thought that you will take one thing out of your head, like an concept or an perception that you’ve, and you’ll talk it in a method that’s helpful to different folks. And so I’ve to sort of sit there and assume, what do I wish to say; how am I going to say it; and what do I would like folks to assume, really feel, and do due to it? And that psychological course of I really feel actually helps me with my mastery. So for instance, yesterday I wrote a submit on them LinkedIn about mainly being a bit weak and asking, it was all about an occasion that I used to be eventually week and the truth that I needed to ask numerous folks if I might come to their panels and issues, and be a bit weak to be able to create alternatives for me. And so I had to consider, “What is the message that I wish to talk; how can I make it helpful; what do I would like folks to assume, really feel, and do on account of it?” And simply that technique of sitting down and accumulating my ideas helps me to be clearer in myself after which create one thing that’s helpful to different folks.
And I truthfully assume that being clearer in your self and creating one thing that’s helpful to different folks, to me that is mastery. And no matter your factor is, it may very well be a couple of information instrument that you’ve, it may very well be about some productiveness factor that you’ve got labored out easy methods to do on a software program factor at work, or for me, it is usually about profession improvement and creating alternatives. No matter your factor is, truthfully, the act of writing it down in order that it may be shared and helpful to different folks, I discover that actually useful, like doubly useful, useful for me and useful for different folks too.
Sarah Ellis: It is attention-grabbing, as a result of after I was fascinated with this, to have the ability to do that nicely, I do assume you need to know, what do you wish to be a grasp in? And listening to you then, really, I wasn’t positive whether or not you have been considering, “Oh, it is mastery in writing”, which really listening to you, I’m going, “It is not that”. I used to be like, “Oh, is that as a result of one of many abilities that you’ve is writing?” So I used to be like, that is the way you get higher at writing. It sounded to me just like the ability that you simply wish to be a grasp of goes, “Nicely, how do I take observations, my experiences, and share them in a method that’s helpful for different folks, in all probability helpful for different folks’s profession?” Is that the — what is the ability, do you assume, that you are going, “I am an eight and I am making an attempt to get to a 9”?
Helen Tupper: Yeah, so I believe it is much less about — my expertise is kind of secondary. So in the end, the factor that I wish to be a grasp of helps folks with their improvement. I wish to encourage folks and allow folks to take management of their profession improvement; that is the factor. For me, the act of sitting right here and considering like, “What’s a narrative I can inform; what’s an perception I’ve received; what’s an article that I’ve learn?” that may assist somebody obtain that final result, and virtually taking that and having… The purpose of writing is, I’ve to undergo the method of going, “What’s it on this story; how can I join that story to one thing that is going to assist somebody take motion with their profession improvement?” However a LinkedIn submit, as a result of it must be quick, the entire level round, it is generally more durable to put in writing succinctly.
As a result of it is a social media submit, you need to assume actually rigorously about, what is the story; what is the message; what is the motion for somebody to remove? For me, the writing’s only a option to hone my perception to assist different folks. I do not intention to be the world’s greatest author on LinkedIn, I wish to be good at profession improvement, so it helps folks be higher of their work; that is the factor. However I do discover that technique of succinctly getting your concepts collectively after which sharing it with different folks in that method, and in addition you’ll be able to see what’s helpful in a short time and what’s not. So, I additionally assume with mastery, it is fairly good to get some suggestions since you would possibly assume you are nice, however nobody likes it then. So, it does really offer you a little bit of a suggestions loop as nicely, which I discover fairly helpful. And I have been doing that for some time and I’ve undoubtedly received higher at sharing quick profession insights and concepts with folks on account of utilizing that, sort of writing it down and sharing it.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, so I believe if you happen to’re listening to this, I believe the start line for mastery does need to be, “Nicely, what do you wish to be a grasp in?” And I believe listening to Helen there, that is fairly a giant ambition. That is sort of mastering one thing that sounds fairly an bold purpose, and I went a lot smaller. So, after I was fascinated with it, I used to be like, “Okay, so what do I do incessantly? The place does it matter that I am kind of actually, actually good?” when it comes to really extra of, I believe, extra of a specialist ability maybe than really listening to Helen describe. Helen’s ability there’s fairly a transferable expertise. Sure, Helen’s utilizing that expertise for the world of profession improvement, however I might think about Helen utilizing that expertise in numerous totally different contexts. Whereas I kind of went, “Okay, one of many issues that we each spend a variety of time doing is profession improvement workshops in corporations, and I wish to be completely good at these. When persons are giving up their time to return and be taught with us, I would like it to be essentially the most helpful studying expertise that they’ve about their profession”. So I used to be considering, proper, I do know that we’re already fairly good at that, as a result of we already get a variety of suggestions, to Helen’s level. So, I really feel assured that we’re already having a very good influence.
And so, I attempted to consider 5 small adjustments that if I made them, it kind of provides as much as greater than the sum of the elements, like actually small issues. So, what are small issues I might do to make these workshops even higher, to turn into much more of a grasp of delivering these workshops in a method that is helpful? And truly, I discovered that 5 small adjustments a very good forcing perform. So, I got here up with a special sort of graphic that I needed so as to add into the workshops; altering barely one thing that we do when it comes to after we ask for suggestions, giving folks one thing at no cost to say thanks for giving us that suggestions, that we do not do at this time; I’ve began to, and it is working nicely, however constantly incorporate a little bit of AI into workshops as a result of it is fairly enjoyable and it is fairly attention-grabbing; ensuring that there is a “when” query in each workshop.
I like when questions as a result of they encourage everybody to be actually particular, like when do you wish to be extra assured; or when would you like your strengths to point out up extra usually? It’s totally situational. So, I believe “when” questions are at all times helpful. I simply received into this checklist and it took me a bit. I received to 2 or three in a short time, after which really I got here up with extra because the day went on. I began to essentially get pleasure from it, as a result of it actually appeals to my — this begins to get into, I like frequently enhancing and I like getting higher, however that is on a really particular kind of ability. What was attention-grabbing is from fascinated with this, and it could have been in a day, one among them we had kind of made occur, with a little bit of assist from our workforce, I believe it is value saying, inside a few hours. The suggestions concept that I would had, which was mainly as soon as somebody provides us some quick suggestions, let’s ship them a hyperlink to one thing free to allow them to get much more helpful profession improvement, I used to be like, ought to we simply do that; ought to we simply experiment with this? We sorted it and it is going reside at this time. And I used to be like, to that time about if the aim of doing that is to get extra motivation? I really feel extra motivated concerning the workshops I am now doing at this time as a result of I’ve made some optimistic adjustments to them in 24 hours, which I have not run previous you by the best way, however simply nod alongside.
Helen Tupper: It is fantastic, that is fantastic! We’re about to go on to autonomy, Sarah, so I believe if I used to be like, “It is not fantastic”, I would be ruining your motivation in the course of the podcast. It makes me take into consideration, that factor that we are able to by no means do the maths on, the 1% higher factor that makes you no matter it’s, I do not know, “Should you’re 1% higher on daily basis, you may be 38%…”
Sarah Ellis: It provides as much as greater than — sure!
Helen Tupper: I do not wish to find yourself when Sarah and I can by no means work out the maths on it. However I believe when you concentrate on mastery, you is perhaps considering, “I should be this final skilled within the factor that I do”. I imply, that is a variety of strain and that is going to take a variety of time. However really, 5 small adjustments, to Sarah’s level, you concentrate on them and you’ll in all probability take not less than one among them, you can in all probability do actually, actually rapidly. And I believe these 5 small adjustments are what in the end provides as much as mastery over the long run, if that is the way you’re approaching it.
Sarah Ellis: And so the final space is autonomy, feeling management over the what, when and the way of labor. And I used to be studying a very attention-grabbing article really in Harvard Enterprise Evaluation on this yesterday, they usually have been saying that there is been numerous chat about flexibility over the previous couple of years, and folks say all people actually desires flexibility.
And their argument was really, it is the incorrect phrase. What folks actually need is autonomy, as in that is the factor that actually motivates folks. And suppleness is a part of the way you obtain that autonomy, however folks feeling like they’ve management over how they get their job carried out, perhaps once they do their job, it is kind of autonomy that all of us attempt for, as a result of I believe it is that human must really feel in management. Should you do not feel in management, if you happen to really feel like another person is in command of your time or your work, then you definately simply begin to really feel such as you’re going again to command and management, that kind of system of working. And I believe all of us recognise we hardly ever do our greatest work in that method.
However equally, after I was reflecting on this one yesterday, I used to be like, “This can be a powerful one”, I believe generally, when you’re in — most individuals have managers who would possibly take away some autonomy, simply because they’re like, “Nicely, this now must be carried out”. Most of us have numerous conferences or calls for on our day. I believe it’s extremely uncommon that you simply simply go, “Oh, I simply have full autonomy over how I spend my days and my weeks”. Possibly we now have greater than we maybe give ourselves credit score for, so I am positive there are undoubtedly some individuals who would argue, “Nicely, if you happen to actually began from scratch, you maybe do”. But when we’re considering right here about small moments of autonomy, I really feel like that is in all probability how you’re feeling about autonomy, I used to be like, “How do I claw again?” And I used to be like, “Hmm, claw again”. However that’s what’s going by my head. How do you claw again a little bit of autonomy whenever you maybe really feel prefer it’s low? So, Helen, what would you do?
Helen Tupper: Nicely, are you aware what, that is the world the place I really feel like I’ve received essentially the most failed concepts in, as a result of I really feel, to your level, I would like autonomy. I really feel in my head, I am like, “I would work so a lot better if I had autonomy”, and I’ve put a great deal of issues in place that simply have not actually labored as a result of I believe they have not mirrored the truth of the work.
So for instance, one thing that used to work nicely for me was having like, I might divide my week up into, “I will do that on a Monday and this on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and this on a Friday”, and I beloved that, however it did not actually final, as a result of the truth of labor made that not attainable. And there’ve been different work programs that I’ve put in place about how I handle my to-do lists, and all that sort of stuff. And that felt good for per week, till all people else had a listing for me and that was ridiculous. However the one factor that I’ve carried out that constantly provides me a sense of autonomy, and I believe it ticks the micro-moment factor, is a no-contact work window. This can be a actually fast factor for me to do and I used to do it in Microsoft. I would do it very first thing within the day in Microsoft and it gave me a way of management earlier than the day went mad, and I do it in Superb If now. It’s actually placing a block of time in your diary, and it does not even need to be loads, it may very well be like an hour or 90 minutes to be sincere, and it’s a no-contact work window. And I message this to folks. I will message it to Sarah. I used to be realising, Sarah, as a result of what I usually name it’s I usually say, “I am going darkish for 90 minutes”, after which I used to be researching, I used to be like, “The place does that phrase come from?”
It is a type of army statements. You realize we’re at all times making an attempt to do away with army language? Anyway, I simply keep in mind Sarah and I had this dialog ages in the past about army language and the way it creeps into our conversations and we do not even realise it is there. “Going darkish” is a type of phrases, so I am not going to say that anymore. I’ll say, “It is a no-contact work window”. It in all probability wants a greater, snappier title. However mainly I simply say, I am not going to be out there throughout this time.
And it isn’t such an extended time frame that it is inconvenient for folks. So, I am not going, “I am not going to be out there all Friday”, it is similar to 90 minutes. However in that point, I get to do what I wish to do in the best way that I wish to do it. So, perhaps there is a prototype factor I wish to create on a profession instrument, or perhaps there is a little bit of studying, oh does not that sound pretty, a little bit of studying to do and analysis and highlighting and sticking my Put up-it Notes in a e-book. However that simply provides me, I can virtually address the dearth of management I might need over my time in the remainder of the week, so long as I’ve that kind of micro second of a no-contact work window. That simply provides me a little bit of, I’ve received selection, I’ve received autonomy over this specific second, and that simply carries by for fairly a very long time for me. So, that’s one thing realistically I’ve carried out for a lot of, a few years, and it provides me that sense of autonomy.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, I discover this one tough as a result of I believe in the primary, I take a variety of accountability over ensuring I’ve excessive ranges of autonomy, after which it goes incorrect. And that has occurred previously, I do not know, couple of weeks somewhat bit. At that time, I discover it laborious, as a result of I believe I am very totally different to you on this respect the place I am like, “This isn’t my default”. I am very used to feeling like I’ve excessive ranges of management.
So, when that goes away, I used to be saying to you, I get annoyed and I get a bit blamey. I get blamey of myself and get blamey of different folks. I am a bit like, “How has this occurred?” And in numerous methods, it is actually unhelpful as a result of it does not actually transfer you ahead and it actually does not improve your autonomy. So, I used to be actually difficult myself on this yesterday considering, in a second the place I do not really feel like I’ve a lot autonomy and I do not get pleasure from that, it actually does influence my motivation, what can I try this’s a lot, a lot smaller? As a result of I’m going to kind of the other to you. I’m going to love systemic adjustments. I am like, “Proper!”
Helen Tupper: You do! You both go, “Let’s cease the whole lot or let’s basically change”!
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, I do. I’ve these like actual moments of like, “Okay, nicely…”, and humorous sufficient, I really feel actually comfy doing that, which I do assume is an effective ability. I am like, “What can we take away? What can we minimize? What can we subtract?” like, helpful questions, however it’s generally prompted by the incorrect level.
Helen Tupper: Sure!
Sarah Ellis: So, I simply kind of go, “Nicely, let’s simply do loads much less, like utterly rethink. That is what we have to do”.
Helen Tupper: I’ve truthfully realized to trip that response, as a result of my default response is admittedly defensive.
Sarah Ellis: I do know!
Helen Tupper: Once you try this I am like, “That is the worst factor to do!”
Sarah Ellis: I did it yesterday, and I used to be considering, “I wager that is actually winding Helen up”.
Helen Tupper: Yeah!
Sarah Ellis: I used to be like, “Nicely, let’s simply do masses much less, as a result of that simply utterly solves this downside”. And I used to be considering, “I do know that Helen cannot reply to this proper now as a result of I do know she’s doing one thing”, and I used to be like, “I wager you need to learn this, take a deep breath, after which resolve”.
Helen Tupper: I simply trip the response.
Sarah Ellis: I nonetheless really assume that was fairly a good suggestion.
Helen Tupper: Oh, simply let it go!
Sarah Ellis: You have satisfied me, perhaps, I do not know. You really have not even talked to me about it, so I assume you are simply going to disregard it!
Helen Tupper: I am driving the response.
Sarah Ellis: “Driving the response”. Yeah, so I discover this one actually powerful, yeah, as a result of I believe not my pure place. I discover it actually laborious, after which I believe I’m going to essentially dramatic options, which are sometimes not, , perhaps generally they’re good concepts, however generally not good concepts. So, I received to 3 issues, and I used to be like, “Oh, okay, I’ve carried out all of those three issues within the final 24 hours, and it has been helpful, and they’re much smaller”. So, I’ve gone for media, mindset and motion.
So, social media, I’ve deleted Instagram and LinkedIn from my telephone, I’ve simply eliminated them from my dwelling display, so you’ll be able to put them again or no matter. And I do use LinkedIn for work, however I’ve received that on my laptop computer. So I used to be like, “Why have I received that on my telephone? Do not want it”. Suppose I would like a break from Instagram.
I believe Instagram is usually my default when, like I would like a break, however I used to be like, I am not satisfied that’s giving me a break, and it does not gasoline my curiosity, it mainly prices me cash as a result of I see issues and I am like, “Oh, I’ll purchase that factor!” I do not assume that is a very good factor, so I used to be like, “Proper, okay”, so I did that yesterday.
And it is humorous, is not it, you are so used to going to that half in your telephone, and truly yesterday it did give me a break, and I used to be like, okay, I felt like I simply received a bit extra management over my time as a result of I wasn’t doing that factor. So, I did that, really feel fantastic about it. The mindset, I used to be at an occasion final evening listening to a man referred to as Sal Khan, who’s the founding father of Khan Academy, which if you happen to’re listening within the UK, Khan Academy is not as massive within the UK, however it’s huge within the US and truly all all over the world. For no matter purpose, it is simply not been as massive within the UK. But it surely’s a not-for-profit the place it is a variety of on-line tutoring. Began in additional like maths areas, however now it is gone into like a great deal of different areas. And it is huge, we’re speaking lots of and lots of of thousands and thousands of individuals use it. And on the again of his e-book, his first testimony was from Invoice Gates, simply to place it into context. And I used to be going to that occasion and feeling a bit grumpy. I used to be post-my unhealthy prepare journey, I used to be questioning, is it even the fitting factor to do to go to this occasion, as a result of I would received numerous different sort of competing issues I wanted to get carried out, and I used to be considering, “I am not feeling nice”.
However I used to be like, “I do have a selection and I’ve received autonomy over my mindset”. And I used to be like, “I’m going to go to this occasion and I’ll go along with an actual learn-it-all mindset and actually take into consideration listening, and in a method the place I might share what I realized with different folks”. And I used to be like, “I’ve received a great deal of autonomy over how I flip as much as this occasion”. And virtually like, “If I am not going to show as much as this occasion with that mindset, I’d as nicely not hassle”. And I used to be like, “I’ve received autonomy over that”. So, I did that, after which really it was actually inspiring, I used to be actually glad I went. And he had a very good bit of recommendation really. Somebody requested him for profession recommendation, and his profession recommendation when it comes to discovering stuff that conjures up you, he mentioned, “Make house on daily basis to discover”, however small. He was speaking about small pockets of house to discover, like be curious. And he was a giant fan of the significance of curiosity. So I used to be like, “Oh, okay”, in order that was like, really, I might join the dots with one thing I used to be grappling with, with one thing he mentioned. So, I used to be like, “Bought a selection about that”, and I felt good having been.
Then the motion one was once more, I get a bit annoyed. When my autonomy goes away, I am unable to do a number of the train I wish to do. So, like this week, I am unable to do any of the train I would usually do, and once more I get all aggravated about that for all kinds of causes. However then I used to be like, “Okay, however what can I do?” I can stroll on daily basis. And so, I really walked to this occasion yesterday as a result of I used to be like, “I can stroll”. I’ve received an occasion tonight, really going to see Helen in motion, going to see Helen converse. I’ve regarded, I can stroll to that, so I used to be like, “Proper, I will stroll to that later”. And so, sure, I am unable to do what I might usually do, however some strolling is nice, it is good for me, it is a bit of outdoor house, a bit of outdoor time. And I really feel like once more, that is a little bit of autonomy I’ve over my day. I can select to get to someplace by strolling, normally by simply leaving somewhat bit extra time, or generally you do not even have to go away extra time. Or, recording this podcast, we’re recording it comparatively early within the morning, which that tells you the whole lot it is advisable to learn about our weeks, given I’m not a morning individual, which you’ll or might not be capable of hear in my tone this morning.
However I did say to Helen, “Might we begin quarter-hour later?” as a result of that quarter-hour is mainly the distinction between me having the ability to go for a stroll and possibly not. And Helen was like, “Yeah, that is fantastic”. Between us, we have been like, you do have these small pockets of autonomy that you would be able to create, and I did really feel higher. Media, mindset, motion, I used to be like, in per week the place I really feel like my autonomy has gone out the window, and that’s having fairly a giant ripple impact on me in all kinds of the way, I’ve gained again somewhat little bit of autonomy in these areas and do really feel a bit higher due to it. Is it ideally suited? No. However I believe it helps me somewhat bit with the acceptance, moderately than the dramatic, “Oh, let’s change the whole lot!” which I do not know why I try this, however I believe… I do not know. It is simply, it undoubtedly is the place I’m going with this one. It should matter a lot to me, I assume, perhaps.
Helen Tupper: I believe it is all only a need for management, is not it?
Sarah Ellis: In all probability!
Helen Tupper: I believe all of it comes from that. And I see it, and I get it. So hopefully, in listening to us, you will have heard not less than one concept that you can perhaps undertake or perhaps adapt in an effort to get a micro second of motivation. However I really assume the larger factor is to consider goal, mastery, and autonomy for you, and perhaps take into consideration, “Nicely, what’s my micro second? What is the factor that may actually assist me there?” And it is perhaps one thing we mentioned or it is perhaps one thing totally different, however I believe virtually having these concepts in your again pocket in an effort to go, “Are you aware what? Right now, I’ll do a type of high-autonomy actions”, or, “Right now, I’m going to put in writing one thing down that I learn this week and I’ll share it with a colleague, as a result of it will assist me assume it by and really feel helpful and like I do know what I am doing, and provides me that feeling of mastery somewhat bit”. These small issues are so helpful as a result of whenever you’re leaning into that day that simply seems to be a bit troublesome, simply doing one among these small issues makes it a bit simpler and having simple actions to extend our motivation I believe is a helpful final result for everybody.
Sarah Ellis: And I’ve began to place our podcast subjects and questions into ChatGPT every week.
Helen Tupper: Ooh, that is thrilling!
Sarah Ellis: After I’ve give you the concepts, as a result of in any other case I am undecided but if I might do it the opposite method round. I really feel like I wish to proceed to assume for myself first after which put it into ChatGPT.
Helen Tupper: What did it inform you?
Sarah Ellis: Nicely, my query, as a result of I do assume the prompts are necessary. Nicely, that is what I am studying, the prompts are necessary with AI. I am undecided I’ve received my prompts proper but, however the immediate I used was, “What concepts might I check out if I would like a lift of motivation at work?” as a result of I used to be making an attempt to make use of that increase to be a short lived factor. Now firstly, I imply it isn’t essentially at all times amount over high quality. It does offer you a variety of concepts. It was like 16 factors with mini bullet factors beneath the 16 factors. So, if you happen to have been caught, I do assume ChatGPT might get you began. So, I wasn’t caught as a result of I would already carried out the concepts.
However I used to be like, if I used to be, there’s quantity right here to choose and select from. After which you’ll be able to apply your mind the other option to the best way that I approached it. However I simply picked out one which was, they speak about — they? I do not know, how do you describe a ChatGPT? They? It? Yeah, talked about reward programs, which really we have not talked about at this time. So, it talked about having a reward system for finishing duties. So, maybe with any of these goal, mastery, or autonomy, you at all times do really feel motivated if you happen to’re like, “I did this factor after which I kind of get a factor”. All of us just like the carrot, proper? And so they gave some examples.
They have been like, “It may very well be about, ‘Oh, I’ll spend a while with a buddy or a interest or have a deal with or no matter'”. So, I used to be like, “Okay, rewards, good factor”. The opposite factor it talked about as a part of a reward system was, we increase our motivation when we now have selection in duties. So, I assume once more, monotony, you would possibly get to the purpose the place you are dropping motivation as a result of I am doing a variety of the identical factor. So, it was speaking about combine it up, primarily, between perhaps one thing that is a bit tougher or one thing that is a bit simpler or one thing that is totally different, simply to verify, if you happen to’re doing a variety of the identical factor. And once more, I can see how that may increase your motivation.
And I in all probability would not have considered that final one, you and I would not have considered that final one, as a result of we now have naturally a variety of selection. So, we in all probability already get the motivation increase that comes from selection. However if you happen to do not, I used to be like, “Oh, that may very well be attention-grabbing”. Then, I really assume you and I are each fairly good at rewarding ourselves. We each know what — our treats are very totally different; yours and my treats are very totally different. However I believe we now have each received used to being like, “Oh, we want somewhat deal with in our day”.
Helen Tupper: That is so true! I purchased myself a chocolate truffle on the best way dwelling yesterday from the prepare station and I used to be like, “It has been actually laborious, however I’ve received my chocolate truffle, it is all going to be fantastic!”
Sarah Ellis: I imply, speak about chocolate, I’ve purchased some chocolate raisins for this night. I do like a chocolate raisin; they’re actually unhealthy for you although! It is highly regarded in London in the mean time, so these chocolate raisins are within the fridge and I believe I will get to them about 10.00pm, which can or might not be the fitting time to eat chocolate. However I used to be like, “Oh, however that may be a little deal with on the finish of my day”.
And I additionally do take a look at my day and assume, “Oh, it isn’t like a deal with, however I undoubtedly do assume my reward is a break”, a 15-minute break the place I will go and get — and at this time, it will be an iced espresso trigger it is highly regarded; an iced espresso, I will stroll across the block. I imply, it isn’t like deal with, deal with, however these. I discovered this not too long ago the place some folks have emailed us profession questions, which I might undoubtedly encourage you to do, and concepts, and we love listening to from folks.
I usually reply with my concepts first, after which I really copy and paste the ChatGPT response simply to go, “However there may also be one thing right here which may spark one thing for you”. And I believe one of many issues, one of many ambitions that we have got over the remainder of this yr is to maintain experimenting with and preserve utilizing AI as a part of the profession improvement that we convey to all people. So, if you happen to’re utilizing AI in an attention-grabbing method in your profession improvement, tell us the way it’s serving to you and we’ll preserve letting in order that we are able to all be taught collectively, as a result of I believe that is the purpose that in all probability most of us are at with AI, is the purpose of enjoying. Let’s play with it and let’s experiment with it, and clearly the body that we’re notably concerned about is, how can it make your Squiggly Profession even higher? So, that was my small try this week, and that was in all probability somewhat little bit of me, the mastery round careers, I used to be like, “Oh, okay, that is me making an attempt to get a bit higher at one thing the place I nonetheless think about myself a newbie.
Helen Tupper: So, we are going to put all of our concepts for motion into the PodSheet, so you have received these there. And as I mentioned firstly, you will get that from the notes, the present notes on wherever you are getting the podcast from, or simply discover it on our web site at amazingif.com. However if you happen to’ve received any questions, or as Sarah talked about, if you happen to’ve received any suggestions on AI and the way you are utilizing it when it comes to your improvement, you will get in contact with us. We’re helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com.
Sarah Ellis: However that is the whole lot for this week. Thanks a lot for listening, and we’ll be again with you once more quickly. Bye for now.
Helen Tupper: Bye, everybody.