How To Stay Motivated - The Locus Rule

Summary

In a 1998 study by Claudia M Mueller at Columbia University, fifth graders were given puzzles and praised for their performance. Half were told they succeeded due to being smart, while the other half were credited for their hard work. The former chose easier puzzles and showed less motivation, while the latter tackled harder ones, demonstrating increased motivation. This highlights the importance of an internal locus of control for sustained motivation. The narrator's sales team experience further illustrates the impact of believing in one's ability to influence outcomes.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The study by Claudia M Mueller at Columbia University in 1998 explored the effects of praise on motivation in fifth graders.
• 🏆 Students were praised for their performance on puzzles, with some told they succeeded due to hard work and others due to innate intelligence.
• 🔑 The students praised for their hard work showed higher motivation, spending more time on challenging puzzles compared to those praised for intelligence.
• 💡 The study highlights the importance of an internal locus of control, where individuals believe their actions determine their outcomes.
• 🧠 An external locus of control was associated with less motivation, as students believed success was due to uncontrollable factors like innate intelligence.
• 🤔 The study's findings suggest that attributing success to effort rather than ability can foster a growth mindset and increase motivation.
• 🛠️ Developing an internal locus of control can be achieved by solving personal problems and recognizing the role of one's actions in the solution.
• 💡 The speaker's personal experience with a sales team illustrates the practical implications of the locus of control in a real-world setting.
• 🚪 Salespeople with an external locus of control were less likely to persist in the face of rejection, attributing failure to external factors.
• 💪 Adopting an internal locus of control can be cultivated by acknowledging personal efforts and their direct impact on outcomes.
• 📚 The transcript mentions Skillshare as a resource for learning and improving skills, which can contribute to a sense of control and motivation.

Q & A

Who conducted the study mentioned in the script and where?

The study was conducted by Professor Claudia M. Mueller at Columbia University.

What was the main focus of the study conducted by Professor Claudia M. Mueller?

The study focused on the effects of praise on the motivation and performance of fifth graders when working on challenging puzzles.

How were the fifth graders divided after being told they scored well on the puzzles?

Half of the students were told they scored high because they worked hard, while the other half were told they scored high because they were smart and gifted.

What were the three types of puzzles the students were presented with after receiving their feedback?

The students were presented with easy puzzles, medium difficulty puzzles, and extremely challenging puzzles.

How did the students who were told they were smart behave during the subsequent puzzle tasks?

The students who were told they were smart spent the majority of their time on the easy puzzles, almost no time on the extremely challenging puzzles, and overall spent much less time trying to solve any of the puzzles.

What was the reaction of the students who were told they were smart to the overall experiment?

The students who were told they were smart reported that they did not enjoy the experiment.

How did the students who were told they worked hard behave during the subsequent puzzle tasks?

The students who were told they worked hard spent the majority of their time focused on the harder puzzles and spent more time overall attempting to solve any of the puzzles.

What was the reaction of the students who were told they worked hard to the overall experiment?

The students who were told they worked hard reported that they enjoyed the entire experience.

What concept does the script introduce to explain the different behaviors of the two groups of students?

The script introduces the concept of the locus of control to explain the different behaviors. An external locus of control refers to believing that external factors are the cause of one's success or failure, while an internal locus of control refers to believing that one's own efforts and actions are the cause.

According to the script, what is a key factor in maintaining motivation?

Having an internal locus of control, which means believing that you have control over your life and are responsible for your outcomes, is key to maintaining motivation.

How did the speaker in the script use the concept of locus of control in their sales team management?

The speaker would ask new salespeople why they thought they made no sales on a bad day. If they blamed external factors, it indicated an external locus of control and the speaker would know they wouldn't last. If they took responsibility, it indicated an internal locus of control, showing they were more likely to succeed.

What practical advice does the script offer for developing an internal locus of control?

The script advises solving problems in your own life and then recognizing that it was your actions that led to the positive outcomes. This helps build the belief that you have control over your destiny.

What example is provided in the script to illustrate how to develop an internal locus of control?

The script gives an example of someone who struggles with falling asleep. By researching and implementing changes such as getting more sunlight in the morning, only using the bed for sleeping, and installing a blue light filter on their phone, they can improve their sleep. Recognizing that these actions led to better sleep helps develop an internal locus of control.

What is the main takeaway from the study and the concept of locus of control as presented in the script?

The main takeaway is that fostering an internal locus of control can significantly improve motivation and overall satisfaction, as individuals believe their efforts directly impact their outcomes.