how to gain a super power

H O W T O G A I N A S U P E R P O W E R

R O B E RTA V O U L O N I O S D E V & C O - F O U N D E R O F L E S P I T O N N E U X

P H O T O K A R O L I N A J E Z

P H O T O L I N D A K A L E I S

M O T I VAT I O N

Heidi Grant Halvorson, Ph.D.

Book: “8 Motivational Challenges”

• mindset

• motivational focus

• high or low confidence

M I N D S E T

F I X E D M I N D S E T V S G R O W T H M I N D S E T ( C A R O L D W E C K )

“(…) students who saw a test as an opportunity to learn a new problem-solving skill actually

performed better when we made the test harder by frequently interrupting them. Those who were

instead trying to Be Good (i.e., trying to show how smart they were) were rattled by the interruptions,

and performed significantly worse.”

– H E I D I G R A N T H A LV O R S O N , P H . D

C H A N G E Y O U R M I N D S E T

• learn

• improve

• develop

• grow

• become

• progress

• over time

M O T I VAT I O N A L F O C U S

P R O M O T I O N F O C U S

• maximizing gains

• pursuing accomplishments

• motivated by applause

• motivation feels like eagerness

• responds best to positive feedback

• needs confidence to push on

• say “yes” by default to an opportunity

• abstract thinking, synthesizing

• works fast to get the job done

P R O M O T I O N F O C U S

• maximizing gains

• pursuing accomplishments

• motivated by applause

• motivation feels like eagerness

• responds best to positive feedback

• needs confidence to push on

• say “yes” by default to an opportunity

• abstract thinking, synthesizing

• works fast to get the job done

P R E V E N T I O N F O C U S

• minimizing losses

• someone to count on

• motivated by criticism

• motivation feels like vigilance

• responds best to negative feedback

• self-doubt increases motivation

• say “no” by default to an opportunity

• concrete thinking, analytical

• works slow to avoid mistakes

C O N F I D E N C E

Confidence is a necessary ingredient for reaching (difficult) goals, having it or lacking it will largely

predict success or failure.

C O N F I D E N C E

confidence = self-efficacy (psychologist Albert Bandura)

The belief that you can successfully execute whatever behaviours are necessary to bring about a particular desired outcome. “I believe I can do it”

C O N F I D E N C E

Self-efficacy is a better predictor of success than objective measures of ability such as job aptitude tests (~1.8 times better).

Believing you have the right skill is more important than simply having that skill.

C O N F I D E N C E

How to build confidence?

#1 source of confidence is past experiences of success

H O W W E L E A R N

the most effective strategies for learning are often counter-intuitive

Learning is deeper and more durable when it’s effortful. When the mind has to work, learning sticks better.

We are poor judges of when we are learning well and when we’re not.

L E A R N I N G I N 3 S T E P S

• encoding of the new information

• consolidation makes connections with existing knowledge/experience

• retrieval of the information, which also keeps it up to date

Repetition is one of the least effective strategies (only short-term benefit)

L E A R N I N G S T R AT E G I E S

• focus on spaced out repeated retrieval, rather than reabsorbing the material again

• practise testing (50% greater recall after a week)

• solve a problem before having been told the solution

I N P U T G O A L S V S O U T P U T G O A L S

S E T T I N G O B J E C T I V E S

B E W A R E O F T H E O U T P U T G O A L

S E T T I N G O B J E C T I V E S

B E W A R E O F T H E O U T P U T G O A L

S E T T I N G O B J E C T I V E S X

I N P U T G O A L

• something you are able do already

• set in the present

• focused on the process

• a clear action to take

• small enough to cause as little friction as possible

• habit forming

Hack your habits: The less you depend on willpower and motivation,

the more successful you’ll be.

R E F E R E N C E S

“The 8 Motivational Challenges: A Short Guide to Lighting a Fire Under Anyone—Including Yourself”, Heidi Grant Halvorson, Ph.D.

“Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”, Carol Dweck

“Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning”, Peter C. Brown et al.

“Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes”, Alfie Kohn

BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits (tinyhabits.com/join)

A N Y Q U E S T I O N S ?

R O B E RTA V O U L O N P I T O N N E U X . C O M