What Motivates Getting Things Done

1. Emotions are the engine of motivation for task completion

Emotions are a powerful and efficient motivational system.

Emotional foundation of motivation. Our emotions, both positive and negative, serve as the primary drivers for task completion. They direct our attention, provide energy, and motivate us to either seek positive feelings or avoid negative ones. This emotional system has evolved to help us navigate life's challenges and accomplish goals.

Cognitive-emotional interplay. While emotions are the core of motivation, cognition plays a crucial role in interpreting and focusing emotional responses. Our thoughts give meaning to what we feel, allowing us to evaluate situations and make decisions. However, emotions can be impervious to cognition, which is why simply trying to "think" ourselves into motivation often fails.

Emotional memory's influence. Our past experiences create emotional memories that shape how we respond to current situations. These memories form scripts that guide our behavior, including our approach to task completion. Understanding these emotional foundations can help us harness their power more effectively.

2. Task-driven and deadline-driven styles reflect different emotional motivations

Procrastinators are motivated by emotions that are activated by deadlines, and task-driven people are motivated by emotions that are triggered by the task itself.

Task-driven approach. Task-driven individuals experience anxiety or distress when faced with uncompleted tasks. This emotional response compels them to take immediate action, often completing tasks well ahead of deadlines. They find relief in crossing items off their to-do lists and may struggle to relax until all tasks are finished.

Deadline-driven approach. Deadline-driven individuals, often labeled as procrastinators, are motivated by the emotions activated as a deadline approaches. They can maintain a sense of calm until the deadline looms, at which point they experience a surge of energy and focus. This style allows for periods of relaxation or engagement in other activities before the deadline pressure kicks in.

Neither style is superior. Both approaches can lead to success, as long as deadlines are met and high-quality work is produced. The key is understanding and optimizing one's natural motivational style rather than trying to force a change that goes against ingrained emotional patterns.

3. Anxiety is a powerful tool for getting things done

In the context of getting things done, anxiety is your friend.

Reframing anxiety. Rather than viewing anxiety as a negative emotion to be suppressed, we can harness its energy-providing and attention-focusing qualities. Anxiety serves to alert us to important tasks and provides the physiological arousal necessary to tackle challenges.

Optimal arousal for performance. Research has shown that there are optimal levels of arousal (often experienced as anxiety) for learning and performance. This concept, known as the Yerkes-Dodson law, suggests that moderate levels of anxiety can enhance focus and motivation.

Strategies for using anxiety effectively:

• Recognize anxiety as a signal that something important needs attention
• Reappraise anxious feelings as excitement or preparedness
• Use the energy provided by anxiety to dive into tasks
• Practice mindfulness to observe anxiety without judgment, allowing its motivational qualities to emerge

4. Fear of failure, rooted in shame, can be a strong motivator

Shame anxiety is the emotional counterpart to the thought of fearing failure.

Understanding shame anxiety. Fear of failure is often rooted in shame anxiety - the anticipation of feeling exposed, humiliated, or inadequate. This emotional blend of fear, distress, and shame can be a powerful motivator when channeled productively.

Adaptive vs. maladaptive responses. While shame anxiety can drive some to avoid challenges or withdraw effort, successful individuals learn to use it as fuel for achievement. They push themselves to succeed in order to avoid the anticipated shame of failure.

Harnessing fear of failure:

• Recognize shame anxiety as information, not a judgment of your worth
• Use the energy provided by fear of failure to focus on preparation and effort
• Cultivate self-compassion to balance the drive for achievement with self-acceptance
• Learn from mistakes and setbacks, viewing them as opportunities for growth rather than confirmations of inadequacy

5. Perfectionism can be beneficial when channeled productively

Optimally, their elevated ideals and expectations for success are also realistic and attainable.

Adaptive perfectionism. While often viewed negatively, perfectionism can be a positive trait when it involves setting high but achievable standards. This "beneficial perfectionism" drives individuals to strive for excellence and continually improve their performance.

Characteristics of healthy perfectionists:

• Set challenging but realistic goals
• Maintain high standards while accepting occasional failures
• Use self-criticism constructively rather than destructively
• Feel satisfied when high standards are met
• Adapt their standards based on the situation

Balancing act. The key to productive perfectionism is finding the sweet spot between striving for excellence and accepting imperfection. This balance allows for high achievement without the paralysis or burnout that can come from unrealistic standards.

6. Divergent motivational styles can create relationship conflicts

Navigating through differences in task completion, or anything else, may seem rather difficult at times.

Sources of conflict. When individuals with different motivational styles work or live together, misunderstandings and frustrations can arise. Task-driven people may view deadline-driven partners as lazy or unreliable, while deadline-driven individuals might see task-driven counterparts as overly anxious or controlling.

Communication is key. Open dialogue about differing styles can prevent misunderstandings and reduce conflict. Partners or colleagues should explain their approach, acknowledge its potential impact on others, and work together to find compromises.

Strategies for managing style differences:

• Focus on outcomes (meeting deadlines, quality of work) rather than process
• Establish clear expectations and intermediate milestones for projects
• Respect each other's working styles while finding ways to accommodate both approaches
• Use each other's strengths complementarily (e.g., task-driven partner handles early stages, deadline-driven partner polishes final product)

7. Understanding and optimizing your motivational style leads to success

Optimizing your motivational style involves clearly identifying whether you are motivated by tasks themselves or by a looming deadline, but you must also be able to identify the temporal point at which you optimally function in terms of task completion.

Self-awareness is crucial. Recognizing your natural motivational style allows you to work with your emotional tendencies rather than against them. This self-knowledge can reduce internal conflict and increase productivity.

Optimization strategies:

• For task-driven individuals:
  • Create to-do lists to manage the urge to tackle everything immediately
  • Set aside specific times for tackling non-urgent tasks
  • Practice delegating or deferring tasks when appropriate
• For deadline-driven individuals:
  • Create artificial deadlines or milestones for open-ended projects
  • Use time-blocking techniques to create focused work periods
  • Communicate clearly with others about your work style and timeline

Continuous improvement. While your core motivational style may be relatively stable, you can always refine your approach. Regularly reflect on your performance, learn from both successes and setbacks, and be willing to adjust your strategies as needed.

Last updated: August 20, 2024