Progress Principle
Designers of video and computer games have known this for years. People will become strongly motivated and even addicted to games that allow a sense of small accomplishments, getting to the next level, finishing a challenging quest or task, solving a problem, or overcoming a foe.
This is a study of the effect that small wins could have on motivation.
Rather than viewing your job as an 8-to-5 work marathon, break your job down into individual elements and tasks. Keeping a daily to do list, and crossing off each task as it is accomplished is a good way of monitoring your progress.
Drawing on the benefits of keeping a daily journal, the authors suggest that taking 5 minutes at the end of each day to list the events that stood out during the day, good or bad, can help you see the small wins, as well as determining the setbacks, you can then work to overcome the setbacks.
Try to create some way of recording or reflecting on your daily accomplishments, take a moment to enjoy the feeling of the win. It will help sustain your motivation going forward.
Researchers have found that top-level leaders and managers were unaware of the important role of progress in motivating workers, ranking it near the bottom of motivational techniques.
Suggestions for bosses and leaders to use this newfound progress principle to their best advantage?
Keep employees moving forward, recognize the small wins, and confront problems and setbacks directly. A leader's job is to remove the roadblocks to progress and success.
The leader's job is to support the team and make it easier for workers and their teams to be successful.
Psychology Today
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