NEWS: How to motivate students so they motivate themselves

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 Parents of teenagers will know the scenario: trying to motivate your child to improve and attain success is often only achieved through bribery, incessant nagging or the threat of some kind of punishment. And parents know too how exhausting it is to engage in any of these options.  Motivating teenagers, especially those who are ‘switched off’ and reluctant to change, is difficult work indeed. Just getting them to clean their rooms is a mission in itself.

“The problem with the carrot and stick model, “reports Kim Shirley, one of Positively MAD’s acclaimed motivational speakers, “is that it relies too much on outside intervention, and quite frankly, puts the responsibility for student motivation on the shoulders of someone else. Motivation that comes from within is way more powerful than that which is enforced by others.”

This is easier said than done, of course, because most teenagers are motivated by their immediate needs and many don’t have a strong inner desire to aspire towards true greatness.

“Even if some students have a strong motivation to achieve success, often they lack the stamina needed to see through their ambitions,” says Joe Rowntree, another of Positively MAD’s excellent speakers. “To be intrinsically motivated requires attention to these three areas: State, Behaviour and Results.”

What this means is: students need to realise that their mental state and thinking patterns directly affect their behaviour, which, in turn, directly affects their results. So someone who thinks of himself as a failure and not exceptional, will mirror this belief in the way he behaves, and that behaviour will directly influence the results he gets.

“This is why,” Joe continues, “paying attention to mental state is crucial.”

In order for students to become intrinsically motivated, they need to be aware of their thinking state and need to identify negative thinking habits.  Only once they begin to question limiting thinking patterns are they able to adopt energising belief systems.

Students need to challenge habitual thinking patterns and replace them with more positive behaviours. This also involves their developing a more helpful response to change and becoming more responsible for their own ‘resourceful states’.

To encourage students to become more motivated, Positively MAD has created a course called MASTERING STUDENT MOTIVATION. This is a 2 ½ hour presentation delivered in a school hall to groups of 150 students at a time.

Using a dynamic and inspirational delivery style, The Positively MAD presenters help students to make the fundamental attitude and motivational shift needed for lasting changes in behaviour.

Students have been enthusiastic in their praise for the course:

“I enjoyed the ‘Positively Mad’ motivation session very much because it helped me find my inner self belief and showed me that I could do anything I wanted if I put my mind to it. For example, I broke an inch thick piece of wood. The workshop was awesome!”  - J Williams, Year 10 student

“Today I realised that I cannot wait for my future to happen. I have to go out there and make it happen. My life is in my hands. Thank you for helping me to believe in myself.” - James, Year 11 Student

Teachers, too, have been impressed with the course. Sam Baker, Head of Year at King Alfred’s School had this to say:

“I would like to personally say a big thank you for the wonderful day we had today. Your talk on motivation was brilliant and had so many useful tips and bits of knowledge that I'm sure our students and staff will remember for a long time. It really did seem to mesmerize so many of our students; if only they acted like that in all of their lessons!   Once again many thanks for a great day!”

By reinforcing positive beliefs and challenging unhelpful paradigms, the Mastering Student Motivation course guides students to becoming self-aware. This will enable them to take ownership and personal responsibility in all areas of their lives.

Details about this inspirational event, including a fact sheet and enquiry form, can be found here.