Effective drivers or the lack of

I am approached from time to time whether I would consider working full time in a social service setting. Many times I just declined promptly out of sheer intuition that I have no energy to take on a full time job.

I am now attending a short course at SACE on Resolving People Problem. Last week there was some useful tips on motivation. The lecturer drew a triangle with the words "Effective Drivers" inside the triangle and along the sides of the triangle the words 'should', 'would'' and 'could'. To be motivated for a course of action a person rationalises the benefits and whether he 'should' go for it. He then asks whether he has the ability to pursue it and ticks the 'could' if he has. Eventually he must ask whether he 'would' do it ie. whether he has the desire to do it.

Using this process to decide on a full time employment, I apply the above 3 tests. I guess with some effort to learn on the job and pick up additional skills I 'could' do it. The 'should' involves asking about the benefits. The monetary rewards is of no incentive and so if I think I 'should' take it up it would be coming from intentions to do something good. The overriding driver is whether I have that desire ie.'would I do it?'.

I then fall back on the checklist of job motivation namely, "achievement', 'affiliation' and 'power'. To process the checklist I ask the 3 associated questions of myself. Do I have a strong need to accomplish challenging goals? Do I value belonging to a group of colleagues? Do I want to control and influence others? Sad to say I end up with 'nay' for all 3.

Thus when asked why I would not take up a full time job my justifications is often about having other commitments. However with a friend I would follow up with a lament "Actually I am lazy lah" My intuition has done the analysis subconsciously.