Motivation
How Will This Session Help Me Get Ready For Work?
Most jobs mean we will face challenges or frustrations at work which affect how motivated we feel. That might be dealing with a busy shift when something breaks, changing your plans quickly, or staying focused when a job feels boring or repetitive. Many people find that problems make them feel stressed or frustrated, but there are clear ways to stay calm, keep your drive going, and build the confidence to bounce back!
Questions to get started
Think about a time at college, work, or in your personal life when something didn't go to plan. How did you react at first, and what helped you move past it?
When you have a difficult, long or boring task to complete, what is one trick you use to keep yourself motivated until it's finished?
If a friend or colleague comes to you feeling overwhelmed by a problem, what is the first thing you usually say or do to support them?
Focused Virtues
The Focused Virtue for this session is Resilience.
Resilience gives us the strength to keep going when work gets tough, bouncing back from setbacks so we can manage hard tasks and stay motivated.
Ask Yourself: "Can I grow in resilience to tackle challenges without giving up?"
Pause when it's hard, push forward with hope.
Skills Development:
Starting your first job comes with challenges, and staying motivated when things get tough or boring takes true resilience. Resilience isn't just about pushing through difficulties on your own—it is also about keeping a positive mindset, staying persistent, and helping the people around you do the same.
Persisting means continuing to try even when something is hard or takes a long time. Facing setbacks can trigger natural feelings like frustration, self-doubt, or disappointment. When these negative emotions kick in, resilience helps you pause, take a deep breath, and regain focus. Instead of thinking "I failed," reframe the situation into "This is a chance to learn." Put setbacks into perspective, focus on what you can control, and take small, positive steps forward.
Resilience also involves encouraging others on your team. When colleagues face obstacles, offering reassurance can boost their confidence and remind them of their strengths. You can support them by:
Offering positive words of support
Reminding them of past successes
Listening to their concerns
Helping break big tasks into smaller, manageable steps
By building your own persistence and motivating those around you, you create a supportive environment where everyone can recover from setbacks and succeed together.
Interview Practise: Case Studies and Questions
"Can you tell me about a time when a task or project didn't go the way you expected? How did you deal with the situation and stay motivated to finish it?"
"If you noticed a teammate was feeling completely overwhelmed by a difficult job during a busy shift, how would you support or encourage them?"
Case Study
You are working a busy Saturday shift at a local shop when the electronic system breaks down, and customers can only pay with cash. Long queues start to form, and several customers are becoming angry about the delay. Your colleague, who is working on the till next to you, gets panicked, makes a mistake with a customer's change, and whispers to you, "I can't handle this, I'm just going to ask the manager if I can go home early."
What could you say or do in that moment to encourage your colleague and help them stay motivated?
Guidance and Resources for Facilitators
Facilitator Guide: Building Workplace Motivation Through Challenges
Core Concepts & Background Information
1. Understanding the Link Between Motivation and Persistence
Persisting means continuing to try even when something is hard or takes a long time. Maintaining motivation when facing workplace setbacks requires understanding what drives effort and how challenges impact emotional energy:
Loss of Motivation: Facing a difficult task or unexpected error can cause learners to question their abilities, leading to a desire to give up.
Managing Negative Reactions: Natural feelings like frustration, disappointment, or anxiety can drain motivation. Recognizing these feelings without letting them take over allows individuals to stay focused on the end goal.
Focusing on Control: Motivation returns when individuals stop worrying about factors outside their control and focus instead on taking small, positive actions.
Remind learners that feeling demotivated during a challenge is completely normal. Motivation is not a fixed feeling—it is something that can be rebuilt step by step through clear choices and practical actions.
2. Rebuilding Motivation Through Goals, Targets, and Milestones
Sustaining motivation through difficult times relies heavily on how goals are structured:
The Stretch Zone: Setting goals that push individuals beyond their comfort zone without overwhelming them builds intrinsic motivation and confidence.
Targets & Milestones: Breaking large, intimidating tasks into small targets (daily wins) and milestones (key checkpoints) keeps motivation high by providing constant proof of progress.
Flexible Routes: Understanding that there are multiple ways to reach a goal stops a single setback from killing motivation. If one route is blocked, finding an alternative path keeps momentum going.
3. Sparking Motivation in Others Through Encouragement
Encouragement is a powerful tool to rekindle motivation in colleagues who feel stuck or overwhelmed.
However, offering effective encouragement requires wisdom. It works best when:
The person still cares about their goal but needs help breaking down a big challenge.
They need a confidence boost or a reminder of their past successes.
The struggle is a natural part of developing new skills.
It is not helpful if the goal is no longer realistic or if the person is experiencing severe distress. In those cases, helping them reflect on new options is better than forcing demotivated effort.
Guiding Reflection & Overcoming Barriers
1. Overcoming the "I'm Too Demotivated to Try" Barrier
People often feel completely drained of motivation after a mistake or a difficult shift, leading to withdrawal or avoidance.
Reframing Strategy: Reframe challenges as natural checkpoints on the path to success rather than reasons to stop. Highlight that motivation often follows action, rather than waiting for motivation to strike first.
Prompting Reflection: Avoid broad questions like "Why aren't you trying?" Instead, ask:
"When a task feels too hard and you lose motivation, what is one tiny, easy step you could take to get moving again?"
"Think about a time you felt like giving up on something but stuck with it anyway. What kept you going?"
2. Maintaining Motivation After Critical Feedback
Receiving corrections from a supervisor can instantly knock confidence and motivation.
Reframing Strategy: Frame workplace feedback as essential data that makes reaching the goal easier, rather than a personal criticism that crushes enthusiasm.
Prompting Reflection:
"How can getting advice from a manager actually save you time and make your job easier?"
"If a teammate lost all their motivation after negative feedback from a manager, what encouraging words could you say to help them see their progress?"
3. Building Shared Motivation Through Peer Support
Many learners assume motivation is purely an individual responsibility, missing out on the energy that comes from teamwork.
Reframing Strategy: Position peer encouragement as a way to fuel your team. Helping a colleague stay motivated creates a more energetic, positive workplace for everyone.
Activity Idea (The Motivation Boost): Pair learners up and give a workplace scenario (e.g., "You both have to sort through a huge pile of stock before the end of your shift" or you have to work in a difficult ward at a hospital). Practice motivating each other using three steps:
Acknowledge the size of the challenge ("This is a massive/difficult job...").
Set a tiny mini-target ("...let's just clear this one box first/let's start with this patient").
Offer positive reinforcement ("We've got this, let's get it done together").
Delivery Tips for the Session
Keep Vocabulary Concrete: Break down abstract terms like intrinsic motivation into everyday language: "finding your inner drive to keep trying even when a task gets boring or hard."
Normalize Energy Dips: Explain that everyone's motivation goes up and down. The skill lies in having a plan to recharge it when it dips.
Focus on Visible Progress: Use visual progress trackers (like ticking off mini-milestones on a board) to help learners physically see their achievements, which boosts dopamine and motivation.