LEARNER
WORKBOOK
Working on My Own Series
Managing Myself Module B
Part 1: Self-Motivation
Acknowledgements:
Project Consultant: Robyn Cook-Ritchie
Managed by: Lana Faessler
Published by:
Laubach Literacy Ontario 8A-65
Noecker Street Waterloo, ON N2J 2R6
T: 519.743.3309 F: 519.743.7520
Website: http://www.laubach-on.ca/
April 2015
All website links were accurate at the time of original distribution in April 2015.
This Employment Ontario project was funded by the Ontario government.
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 2
Managing Myself
Module B: Part 1
Self-Motivation
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 3
Slide 2
Self-motivation is
having the initiative to
do a task or activity
without being
supervised or being told
to do it.
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 4
Slide 3
Activity: Self-Motivation Quiz
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 5
Self-Motivation Quiz
Answer the following the best you can... there are no right or wrong answers
I understand what motivation is
YesMaybeNo
The following three words describe or define motivation:
1.
2.
3.
I believe that constant feedback from others is necessary to stay motivated
YesMaybeNo
I do not rely on other people to motivate me; I am self-driven
YesMaybeNo
I think in order to have motivation you have to have goals
YesMaybeNo
Money is the primary motivator for people
YesMaybeNo
I would like to receive more motivation
Yes No 
Before anyone can motivate me, I have to motivate myself
YesNo
I get motivated in the following ways:
A.
B.
C.
I can work independently without prodding to get the job done
YesSort ofNo
High self-expectations and self-confidence creates motivation
YesMaybeNo
Picturing yourself as successful does not have any influence on one’s motivation
YesMaybeNo
Having a positive attitudes will promote higher levels of motivation
YesMaybeNo
My definition of self-motivation is:
Source: Soft Skills Module 1-11
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 6
Slide 4
Behaviours and characteristics of
someone who is motivated
• What is a behaviour?
• What is a characteristic?
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 7
Slide 5
Behaviour
• the way a person or animal acts or behaves
• the manner of conducting oneself
• the response of an individual, group or species to its environment
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
Characteristic
• a special quality or trait that makes a person, thing or group
different from others
• a distinguishing trait, quality or property
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 8
Slide 6
Activity: Motivated v. Not
Motivated
Activity: Motivated v. Not Motivated
Write your own definition for behaviour and characteristic. Use the information from the class
discussion. You can also use a dictionary if you need to.
Behaviour:
Characteristic:
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 9
Think about someone you know whom you consider highly motivated. Write the behaviors and
characteristics this person has displayed or those that you have observed that tell you he/she is highly
motivated.
Highly Motivated Person
Behaviours
Characteristics
Now think about someone who is not motivated. Write down the behaviors and characterizes of that
person.
Person Who is Not Motivated
Behaviours
Characteristics
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 10
Slide 7
Activity: Thinks I Like
to Do and Things I
Don’t Like to Do
Activity: Things I like to do and things I don’t like to do.
Make a list of five things you like to do. Write down what you think motivates you to do these things.
Things I like to do
What motivates me?
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 11
Make a list of five things you don’t like to do. Write down what you think could help make you more
motivated to do these things.
Things I don’t like to do
What could help motivate me?
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 12
Slide 8
Two Types of Motivation
Motivation is a useful thing. Motivation drives our behaviours. There are
many types of motivation.
The two main types of motivation are external and internal.
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 13
Slide 9
External Motivation
With external motivation, you’re doing something because the activity
will bring some reward or benefit at the end of it.
• Think about job hunting. Job hunting probably isn’t something you do for a
hobby. You wouldn’t spend your time filling out job applications and going to
interviews for fun. People job hunt because they want an outcome- a job.
• The motivation for actually working is also usually external.
Would you do
your job if you didn’t get paid for it?
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 14
Slide 10
Internal Motivation
With internal motivation, you do something purely
because you enjoy the activity itself.
•
•
The more internally motivated an action is, the more enjoyable it usually is.
So from the point of view of happiness, it makes sense to have more
internally motivated activities in your life. People who are internally
motivated show more interest and excitement over what they do, and have
more confidence.
You are usually better at internally motivated actions too. You show more
persistence and creativity, and because of that you’ll have increased
happiness and self-esteem.
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 15
Slide 11
Activity: Internal v.
External Motivation
Think about some of the things you do on a regular basis. Are you mostly
externally motivated, acting in for the rewards? Or are you mostly internally
motivated, looking for happiness and well-being within the things you do?
Activity: Internal v. External Motivation
For each activity listed, decide if you are or would be internally or externally motivated. Write a short
explanation.
Activity
Internal or External
Motivation?
Explain
Attending the program every
day.
Cooking dinner for you family.
Looking for a new job.
Going to work every day.
Reading an article in a magazine
during your spare time.
Going for a walk.
Writing a short essay for a class.
Playing volleyball in a
recreational league.
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 16
Slide 12
• If you want to do more of something, you can try to change your motivation
to something closer to internal motivation.
• If you do so, your performance will likely improve, and you’ll generally be
happier.
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 17
Slide 13
"The early bird gets the worm"
"He/she is a night owl”
What do these sayings mean to you?
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 18
Slide 14
Why does timing matter?
When you do things can affect your motivation. Three signs you are
doing things at the wrong time:
• you can not focus
• total lack of motivation
• no matter how much or how long you work, you don't get anything
done
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 19
Slide 15
Activity: Time and Energy
Activity: Time and Energy
Check off each statement you think applies to you. When you have finished count up how many
statements you have checked off in each section.
Based on this information write a short paragraph explaining when you think you are the most
motivated and productive.
MORNING
o
o
o
o
o
I like to get up early to do chores.
I can remember things best when I concentrate in the morning.
I usually go to bed early.
I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed
I usually feel sleepy or tired after lunch.
I remember things best in the morning before lunch.
Total:
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 20
AFTERNOON
o
o
o
o
o
o
It takes me a few hours in the morning before I feel awake.
I wish I could sleep all morning.
I normally do any chores that need to be done right away when I get home in the afternoon.
I find it difficult to work on assignments when I am in class in the afternoon.
I wish I didn't have to go to class or work until noon.
I remember things best after lunch time.
Total:
EVENING
o
o
o
o
o
o
I usually hate to go to sleep at night.
I stay awake for a long time after I go to bed.
I usually do any assignments from class or chores after supper.
I am able to stay up all night.
I wish I could stay home during the day and go to class or work at night.
I remember things best late at night.
Total:
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 21
Slide 16
Developing Your Internal
Motivation
•
•
•
•
•
There are many things that we have to do, and we can’t expect everything to be
internally motivated. So how do we stay motivated to do non internally motivating
things?
Internal motivation is developed and maintained when we are autonomous,
competent and supported.
We feel autonomous when we can make our own choices and decisions.
We feel competent when we can do things.
We feel supported when we are connected to others.
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 22
Slide 17
How to Become More Competent
•
•
•
•
Practice. The more competent you are at a certain activity, the more motivated
you’ll be to do it. If you’re trying to learn a new skill and losing motivation because
it’s difficult, at least take heart in the knowledge that the better you get, the more
motivated you’ll typically get.
Look for positive feedback. Your motivation will become stronger if you can find
some way of getting positive feedback on your progress. Avoid negative feedback –
Negative feedback will stand in the way of your confidence and block your internal
motivation.
Break down your tasks and goals. If a task is very complex and challenging,
breaking it down can help you stay motivated.
Make sure the difficulty level matches your ability. You want your goals and
activities to be reasonable, not so easy that you become bored, but not so difficult
that you become frustrated. If a task or goal is too easy or hard, find some way to
adjust accordingly.
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 23
Slide 18
Activity: Workplace
Motivation Tic Tac Toe
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 24
Activity: Workplace Motivation Tic Tac Toe
Work in pairs. You will need three copies for each pair. Each player gets one full board of cards. Cut up
the third set into cards. Shuffle them and place them face side down. Work in pairs. Take turns picking
up a card. Discuss what you would do in each situation with your partner. The person who picked up
the card places it on their board in the matching spot. Continue until nine cards have been played or one
player gets three in a row.
The bus is late and you need
to get to work.
What should you do?
You arrive at work and
everyone seems busy.
What should you do?
You have been left to do
something you don’t know
how to do.
What should you do?
It’s your break time and you
are really hungry but no one
else stopped working.
What should you do?
Break time is over but no
one else is going back to
work.
What should you do?
You are concerned that you
are being asked to do
something dangerous.
What should you do?
You have been asked to tidy
up but you don’t know
where things should go.
What should you do?
It’s past the end of your shift
but no one has stopped
working.
What should you do?
You have been left behind on
a scaffold to finish up and
someone has taken the
ladder.
What should you do?
Source: Go Module 2 Education and Employment
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 25
Slide 19
Using Creative Visualization
• When you use creative visualization, you literally
visualize or picture yourself accomplishing your
tasks or goals.
• Try doing this when you are falling asleep at night
• Creative visualization works best when you are in
a quite and calm environment away from your
everyday activities.
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 26
Slide 20
Writing Down you Goals
• Writing down your goals will help you to stay organized and will make
setting a course of action easier.
• When your goals are written down, and you begin to achieve them,
your self-confidence will soar and your motivation will increase.
• You should make yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals.
• Set aside a time every day, to review your goals, and see which ones
you have met and which ones you need to work on.
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 27
Slide 21
Break Down Tasks
• Break down your goal or task into
smaller goals or tasks.
• The task or goal will be smaller
and easily accomplished.
• This will help prevent you from
becoming stressed or frustrated
as you work towards completing
your task or achieving your goal.
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 28
Slide 22
Positive Speaking and
Language
• Once you know what the goal or task is, use positive language to
promote your success.
• By verbally speaking or writing the opposite of the negative words you
believe, you are motivating yourself and giving yourself a better
chance of success.
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Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 29
Slide 23
Activity: Writing Positive
Statements
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 30
Activity: Writing Positive Statements
Turn each negative statement into a positive statement. The positive statement becomes a goal to
motivate you.
Example:
Negative statement: I won't each any junk food.
Positive statement: I will only each food that is healthy and good for me.
Negative Statement: I will stop spending so much money on things I don't need.
Positive Statement:
Negative Statement: I won’t interrupt people when they are talking.
Positive Statement:
Negative Statement: I won't be so lazy with my housework.
Positive Statement:
Negative Statement: I'm too tired to read that book.
Positive Statement:
Negative Statement: I don't want to go to the grocery store right now.
Positive Statement:
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 31
Slide 24
How to Strengthen Motivation
By Remez Sasson
1. Set a goal.
2. Understand that finishing what you start is important.
3. Socialize with achievers and people with similar interests or goals, since
motivation and positive attitude are contagious.
4. Never procrastinate anything.
5. Persistence, patience and not giving up, despite failure and difficulties, keep the
flame of motivation burning.
6. Read about the subjects of your interest.
7. Constantly, affirm to yourself that you can, and will succeed.
8. Look at photos of things you want to get, achieve or do.
9. Visualize your goals as achieved, adding a feeling of happiness and joy.
Remember, if a certain goal is really important, going through the above
steps will strengthen your motivation, and keep you going forward.
Source: http://www.successconsciousness.com/strengthen_motivation.htm
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 32
How to Strengthen Motivation
By Remez Sasson
1. Set a goal. If you have a major goal, it would be a good idea if you split it into several minor goals,
each small goal leading to your major goal.
By dividing your goal into several, smaller goals, you will find it easier to motivate yourself, since you
will not feel overwhelmed by the size of your goal and the things you have to do. This will also help you
feel that the goal is more feasible, and easier to accomplish.
2. Understand that finishing what you start is important. Hammer into your mind that whatever you
start you have to finish. Develop the habit of going to the finish line.
3. Socialize with achievers and people with similar interests or goals, since motivation and positive
attitude are contagious. Associate with motivated people, who share your interests.
4. Never procrastinate anything. Procrastination leads to laziness, and laziness leads to lack of
motivation.
5. Persistence, patience and not giving up, despite failure and difficulties, keep the flame of motivation
burning.
6. Read about the subjects of your interest. This will keep your enthusiasm and ambition alive.
7. Constantly, affirm to yourself that you can, and will succeed.
8. Look at photos of things you want to get, achieve or do. This will strengthen your desire and make
your subconscious mind work with you
9. Visualize your goals as achieved, adding a feeling of happiness and joy.
Remember, if a certain goal is really important, going through the above steps will strengthen your
motivation, and keep you going forward.
Source: http://www.successconsciousness.com/strengthen_motivation.htm
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 33
Slide 25
This Power Point was created by Laubach Literacy Ontario. ​
The resources can be downloaded free of charge at www.laubach-on.ca. ​
This Employment Ontario project was funded by the Ontario Government. 2015 ​
All website links were accurate at the time of original distribution-March 2015. ​
All of the images and clip art used in this Power Point are from Clipart.com and
Microsoft Office.com.​
Laubach Literacy Ontario 2015 pg. 34