Decisions and Motivations

Everyone makes decisions differently and is motivated or driven by different things. Being aware of and understanding these differences are really important when managing employees or creating relationships.

I am now motivated to write this article, following the successful Round Table discussion that I hosted on VoARadio Network  on last Saturday.  Over fifty years of scientific research has revealed that there are three distinct styles of decision-making. Each of us can make decisions in all three ways, but we tend to develop a preference for one more than the other two. This preference becomes a subconscious force, affecting the decisions we make on a daily basis and shaping how we perceive the world around us and ourselves. The three decisional styles are personal, practical, and analytical.

To some extent everyone is capable of making all three kinds of decisions, but we ultimately have a preference. Here is a simple example of the three in contrast with each other. A person with each style is sitting around a table working on a project together. While the Personal style is focused on the needs of the team members involved and how to best use their talents, the Practical style does not really care as much about the team or if it is done right, he just wants to get it done. Finally the Analytical sees no reason to worry about the people involved or even getting it done if it is not going to be done correctly.

We all have different balances of these three styles. That is what makes our decisions and actions different from others. These ways of making decisions and how we use them are at the core of who we are.

In addition to there being three distinct styles of decision making, people are also motivated to make decisions based on different drivers. Based on the research of Dr. Eduard Spranger and later by Dr. Gordon Allport, there are seven key motivational drivers and they include the following:

§ The motivation to achieve balance, harmony, and find form or beauty

§ The motivation for security from economic gain and to achieve practical returns

§ The motivation to be seen as unique, independent, and stand apart from the crowd

§ The motivation to have influence and control over one’s environment or success

§ The motivation to benefit others in a humanitarian sense

§ The motivation to establish order, routine, and structure

§ The motivation to gain knowledge or discover truth

Imagine how beneficial it would be to know how your team members make decisions and why they are motivated to do what they do. Imagine being able to share that knowledge with the actual team members. Communication, teamwork, and your ability to manage would instantly improve. Results and outcomes would measurably improve. Uncovering how people make decisions and what drives them to do what they do can be uncovered through a simple assessment process. [Please contact me if you are interested in the assessment process.] However, the assessment process is only the beginning. A commitment by management to create an action plan on how to effectively use the knowledge to improve team building is a critical second step. Information for information’s sake is—you got it—just information. An action plan to manage with the new information will provide long-term and sustainable results for your team.

Make Chaos Disappear

Every day brings us a choice, either to practice stress or to practice peace. Right now I am in a tight squeeze. I am in the process of making some big changes, and it’s bringing quite a bit of chaos—uncertainties, insecurities, and fears—into my life, like any change does.

A deep desire of mine is to be able to look chaos in any form, of any magnitude, squarely in the eye and levitate up to the next level of not letting any of the anarchy affect my inner peace. Whatever the drama—work, family, friends, worldly, financial, school, natural disasters—I don’t want any of it to touch my inner peace. My desire is for peace or bust, on the inside and all around me.

When we recognize that life is our mirror, we begin to understand that the outer chaos merely represents our mental state. It is the mime of our mind. If we can quiet our inner chaos, our outer chaos will disappear.

However, too often we get this process backward, and that is why it takes us so long sometimes to tame all of the chaos: We don’t take the time to first quiet our mental noise. A good friend of mine, Jordana Carroll advises us of the importance of mental floss in all her weekly radio shows on the Mentors - VoARadio Network. (If you haven't heard any of her shows, you should check her out at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/jordanacarrollshow)

I often say that I desire to be a yogi, untouched and at ease. My biggest fear is someone knocking me off balance and getting trampled. So, my fantasy is to be just kind of floating there in the lotus position in the middle of it all, with pushing and shoving going on all around me, yet I am untouched. I remain at ease and guarded by my peaceful light.

I crave that kind of serenity in my day to day. When situations arise that are not going according to my plan, I want to transcend into a glowing yogi and remain perfectly centered, unfazed by the drama going on all around me. Keeping this vibe of peace is hard to do sometimes when we are faced with the challenges of life.

Winds of change blow through our lives daily, and unpredictable circumstances happen regularly that are beyond our control. How do we handle it all?

Personally, my brain used to rush to “fix” everything. If something came up that did not go according to my plan, I used to spend sleepless nights trying to figure out “what to do.”

I solicited advice from friends, loved ones, and colleagues. I even 'Googled' for any hints and solutions I could find. I did anything other than assimilate myself as the peaceful yogi who doesn’t worry, and again that is approaching the issue backward.

It is only from cultivating an inner calm and centeredness that I was able to transcend above any outer chaos. So, how can we do this? How can we transform any chaotic situation into one of inner and outer peace? How do we sit calmly and not get caught up in the hype? How do we not worry? How do we stay centered and grounded? How do we remain connected and rooted?

Here are some ideas that I use; maybe some of them might work for you:

1. Thoughts have power

Visualize - this is the first thing I do. I try to calm my mind down, and I start envisioning the outcome I’d like to see happen. I don’t get attached to these ideas; I simply start imagining myself happy, healthy, safe, and loved. I begin to visualize a friendlier situation and outcome.

Then I can rest in those good vibes as I remain cradled in my center. Thoughts have power.

2. Words have power.

Train your subconscious brain to have a different default thinking than it does now. Wishful thinking for different circumstances is not enough to transcend us; we have got to feel it. If we wish for things to be better or different, but underneath it all we feel that we are doomed no matter what, then nothing will change. It takes us retraining our subconscious mind to have a different belief system.

I personally like to use affirmations to help me improve my mental and emotional fitness. In Hindu scriptures, we call this a mantra. It’s a positive, uplifting thought that is to be repeated many times throughout the day until it becomes an inner truth and belief system.

An example of a mantra is, “Everything always works out,” or, “Only what is best will happen.” When I am stressed, repeating these two mantras throughout the day pulls me back into my center and eases my mind. Words have power.

3. Feelings have power

Develop faith that things always turn out OK. In order for us to transcend our situation and create more peace in our lives, we have got to feel it. The best way for us to succeed at levitating above the mosh pit is to have faith.

To have faith, we must believe with conviction that everything will be OK, even if we cannot currently see exactly how.

When we possess faith, that inner knowing is a feeling that we have. We know. And we cannot evolve fully into knowing until we have unshakeable faith. Feelings have power.

4. Action is power

Keep your eyes and heart focused on how you can add value to the world each day. In Hindu scriptures, we call this our Dharma, and it means life purpose. It is our own unique mission in life, the reason each of us are here. It is our individual gift we were born to share with others. It is what we are here to serve and dazzle the world with. It is in our DNA and a part of us. It is scripted on our souls.

In moments of mayhem, cling to your purpose in life. Stick with what is true to you. No matter what is going on in our lives right now, our only guarantee is our life purpose. It will never leave you because it is a part of you. You need your purpose, and your purpose needs you. It is the yin to our yang.

So, in my moments of panic and confusion, instead of pumping my brain for answers, I have learned to continue to focus on my purpose. We are here on this Earth for one purpose alone: to be and spread unconditional love. It’s how we do it that differs. And it’s these differences that paint the mosaic of life.

When all else fails, focus on how you can add value to the world. If you are wondering what your own personal life mission is, follow your dreams; they will lead you there.

When I know I have contributed value to the world each day, I feel centered, grounded, and at ease. Action is power.

Remember, the outer world is a mirror of our inner world. If we can tame the inner beast inside, the dramas in our outer worlds will subside. And when events occur that are beyond our control, we can use these four steps to remain rooted in our center, and at peace.

We will become one with the yogi floating in the mosh pit, glowing and untouched.