Over time, psychologists have shown the positive impact that willpower provides in day-to-day activities, from enhancing self-control to becoming more and more efficient at the workplace.
The American Psychological Association has entitled willpower, “the Psychological Science of Self-Control,” by stating that “at its essence, willpower is the ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals.” Willpower is usually built in terms of deploying the right motivation, belief systems, and perseverance.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, is how an English saying goes. Fast-forward to the 21st century and we can adapt it to sound less catchy, but equally valuable: all work and no reward makes people disengaged.
All throughout their lives, people get engaged in self-improvement activities, be it in a structured or non-structured way. From simply reading a new book, taking on a training course or establishing personal goals and initiatives, all these activities need specific drivers. So what makes us establish goals and stick with them? What pushes us into becoming better? What drives us to act? What are the factors that enhance our motivation and, ultimately, our well-being?
It is common for organizations and individuals alike to set goals, objectives they want to reach. Instinctively, people have felt that having clearly defined goals is useful for achieving the desired results, and goal setting has been used as a way of improving organizational and personal performance.
