Motivation is a powerful force, capable of propelling you to conquer mountains or resigning you to mere spectatorship of those towering peaks. Reflecting on my graduate program, one professor shared a definition of motivation that stayed with me all this time: “Motivation is two words: Want to.”

Researchers and personal development experts often distill motivation down to consistently moving toward what you believe benefits you. Yet, as leaders, we sometimes find ourselves needing to navigate directions that may not align with our immediate interests. How, then, do we strike a balance between playing it safe and taking intentional action?

Do we continue deftly sidestepping the gorillas that obstruct our path? Or do we cautiously acknowledge their presence, not make direct eye contact, and just hope they’ll vanish over time? Or, do we confront them head-on, initiating decisive action to transform these obstacles into more manageable bite sized pieces leading to long-term solutions?

As a performance and motivation coach, I’ve learned that if you don’t name these gorillas, someone else will. In one of my former roles, I stepped into a leadership position that had been vacant for a while. As you can imagine, things became confusing as to the decision making and well folks were doing their own thing without a unified purpose or vision and then sharing the debrief afterwards. Think herding cats y’all. One hot summer day, one of the cats slipped into my office, shut the door, and proceeded to tell me that I did not have administrative control. Spot on! He named my gorilla and with this revelation, it served as a catalyst to address the immediate and longer term issues.

I share this with you because if you haven’t named your own gorillas yet, I encourage you to do so. Naming these challenges is a powerful step toward overcoming inertia and progressing toward solutions. At Blue Heron Coaching, we have full confidence in your ability to rise to the occasion and tackle these obstacles magnificently. To aid you in this process, consider the following questions:

• What beliefs are holding you back from moving forward?
• What fears are preventing you from taking action?

Remember, these beliefs and fears are merely stories you tell yourself, not immutable truths. I urge you to write them down because through the process of journaling, your solutions will find you. 

The decision-making process—weighing the safety of the known against the allure of the unknown—is where growth truly lies. Engage in self reflection, take accountability for your actions, and lean into incremental growth. Shed beliefs that no longer serve you and maintain a positive mindset.

While control may seem elusive and the future uncertain, one thing remains certain: if nothing changes, then nothing changes. Should you need support on your journey, know that Blue Heron is here to assist you every step of the way. cs@bluehron.test-links.com