Is false motivation really better than no motivation?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 16:08:55 -0500

Sometimes it can be difficult to keep your personal issues locked away until the duty day is over. Even a cranky mood can bring down your peers and subordinates. Is it healthy to mask your negative mood? Not only for leaders, the question is for everyone. What do you do to keep yourself motivated?

Response by SFC Rocky Gannon made Dec 8 at 2013 4:10 PM

SFC Rocky Gannon — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 16:10:58 -0500

SGT Brassfield it gets stressful in out office for everyone, and sometimes be just take a break and joke/clown on each other. this helps release the stress and usually turns everyone's mood better.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Dec 8 at 2013 5:20 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 17:20:57 -0500

Go on a run or go to the gym...exercise is one of the best stress relievers.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 5:23 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 17:23:49 -0500

No its not I hate that false motivation crap. Your motivation is that you have a good respectable job. That all you need. At 18 of 21 you are making good money to say that you are paying for a house note or food. just saying

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 5:28 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 17:28:36 -0500

I think there are those things we suffer as part of being human. It is indeed best not to entertain toxic people into the work environment and some times we have to do things when do not feel like doing them. As SFC Gannon has said, find a way to take the edge off but do it positively. Humor is one way to do that.

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Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 5:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 17:38:38 -0500

The phrase "false motivation is better than no motivation at all", as it applies to me, usually refers to when I'm having to do something I don't want to, but I'm doing as though it was exactly what I wanted to be doing at that moment (rather than griping and complaining the whole time.) This often requires a paradigm shift for me, some silver-lining outlook where I find what's good about it and cling to that.

False-motivation is exuding a positive attitude, even when you don't feel it. Even saying "this is a crappy detail, let's get it done and move on" with a smile and a positive attitude can make the work go quicker, and you'll feel better when it's done, too...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 5:40 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 17:40:51 -0500

You are very welcome and I have used it. I am not sure what false motivation is but that would preferable than taking out those frustrations on others. Money, not-with-standing. Have a great week.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 5:48 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 17:48:56 -0500

There have been many times where if I didn't have false motivation I would have none at all.

Response by CSM Mike Maynard made Dec 9 at 2013 7:27 AM

CSM Mike Maynard — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 07:27:16 -0500

SGT Brassfield, I would say, YES, it is healthy to mask your negative mood in front of Soldiers.

With the amount of Soldiers that we interact with daily, they deserve for us to be the most positive that we can. If the positive attitude and/or sincere false motivation is perceived the same as if it were genuine, then perception is reality and it is genuine to those receiving your positive attitude.

Take a look at the studies done on smiling - it is contagious and changes peoples attitudes and feelings.

I keep motivated by constantly interacting with Soldiers and realizing that I have the best job in the Army.

Response by CPO John Dupee made Dec 9 at 2013 9:12 AM

CPO John Dupee — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 09:12:03 -0500

In some cases, Yes. If you we fight the way we train and we train the way we fight then making that effort is worthwhile - fae it 'til you make it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2013 1:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 13:01:58 -0500

I don't think it's false motivation. I believe that of course we all have days where we don't feel our best. However, we need to do something to get out of it. I personally do that at the start of each morning with ensuring everyone has a tough but fun PT program. Pumping everyone up not only starts the day off on a good note but helps you put to the side the issues that may cause you to have a down day.

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Dec 30 at 2013 1:41 PM

SPC Christopher Smith — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 13:41:45 -0500

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation

Motivation is a psychological feature that arouses an organism to act towards a desired goal and elicits, controls, and sustains certain goal-directed behaviors. It can be considered a driving force; a psychological one that compels or reinforces an action toward a desired goal. For example, hunger is a motivation that elicits a desire to eat. Motivation is the purpose or psychological cause of an action.

I do not believe false motivation is better than no motivation. This is because the concept is flawed. I have no DESIRE to do staff duty, or pull weeds in the summer sun. The motivation is already given to me to do the job. I was told to do it so I have to do it, if I like it or not. If i have no desire to do a great job, at a fast pace it won't happen by someone yelling at me about motivation. I have a motive already as stated before. The saying should be "Fake like your happy to do this" or "Fake like you have the desire to do this".

Motivation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Goal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A goal is a desired result a person or a system envisions, plans and commits to achieve a personal or organizational desired end-point in some sort of assumed development. Many people endeavor to reac...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 4:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 04:02:21 -0500

"False Motivation really better than none ? IMHO, any type of motivation whether it be false or barely there is better than none. Everything is a mental game, if you believe that the light at the end of the tunnel is coming, you better believe you'll be motivated to run to it. If you believe that every time a solution is resolved by a change of attitude, you'll surely repeat your actions to dictate that positive outcome. Those who don't seem to emulate a type of positive attitude to a bad position .... will only result in failure or resentment.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 4:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 04:02:47 -0500

"False Motivation really better than none ? IMHO, any type of motivation whether it be false or barely there is better than none. Everything is a mental game, if you believe that the light at the end of the tunnel is coming, you better believe you'll be motivated to run to it. If you believe that every time a solution is resolved by a change of attitude, you'll surely repeat your actions to dictate a positive outcome. Those who don't seem to emulate a type of positive attitude to a bad position .... will only result in failure or resentment.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2014 7:43 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 19:43:17 -0500

While stationed in Germany, our company was given the privilege of doing PT in our own fitness attire. Our leadership believed it would increase the motivation of the soldiers far over empty "pumping up" the soldiers. Our 1SG believed, you'll feel how you look. Some people require incentive, which they may just deserve.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2014 9:26 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 21:26:13 -0500

I keep personal issues to my self and put on a mask when I need to because that is but as when I was lower enlisted I hated when NCO's would say "false motivation is still motivation hooah?!" Usually that is said when no one is motivated in a response to something. I'd rather be told yes what ever it is we are doing sucks but to also embrace it.

Response by SSG Jason Fish made Jan 25 at 2014 11:02 PM

SSG Jason Fish — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 23:02:15 -0500

A long time ago, in a land far, far away, when I was a young Private in the Army, I had an NCO tell me something about false motivation that I found to be very valuable. Some Soldiers may look at it differently. There is no such thing as false motivation. Let me 'splain. If you are just having "one of those days" where you just can't get motivated and you're in just a foul mood, when it comes to doing an activity (PRT for instance) where you need to be motivated, you force yourself to show "false motivation" so your leaders don't harp on you. Am I right? OK. What I've found is this. If you force yourself to show motivation, eventually your problems will be at the back of your mind, thus making room for motivation. This is what happens. You ACTUALLY become motivated. It is now no longer false motivation, but true motivation. Now, this may not be the case for everybody, but I've practiced it my entire career, and passed it on to my Soldiers in the past. And it worked for them as well. Ultimately, putting forth that "false motivation" causes you to be in a better mood and to be motivated. Summary: I personally don't believe in false motivation because it leads to true motivation. What are you thoughts?

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2014 3:59 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 15:59:12 -0500

Nope! False motivation is just that...FALSE! For 17 years, I heard "False motivation is better than no motivation." Guess what, folks. False motivation IS no motivation. And in the absence of motivation...DETERMINATION has always done the trick for me.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 3:54 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 15:54:24 -0400

For leaders, absolutely they must mask their negative emotions - at least in front of their subordinates. I don't think of it as "false motivation," though. I think of it as discipline. As NCOs, we know to always place our Soldiers' needs above our own. So maybe I need a hug today, but what my Soldiers need is a leader who stands strong in the face of adversity and keeps them motivated no matter what personal issues I might be dealing with. Making sure they get what they need regardless of my own motivation is what discipline in the NCO Corps is all about.