12 MOTIVATIONAL DYNAMICS FOR STUDENTS AND WORKERS - GEOGRAFÍA - 2025

The dynamics of motivation are widely used by human resources professionals in business and also by teachers and others working in the school.

Taking care of the motivation of students and workers, depending on the context in which we are carrying out an activity, is an essential task and that, without a doubt, will affect the performance and results obtained, as well as the state of cheer up.

Motivation and other related factors can be worked through dynamics carried out by a cohesive work group and managed by a good leader.

Throughout this article, we will see 10 dynamics that will contribute to an improvement in motivation that can be applied in different areas, adapting to the group level. Greater motivation among team members will cause a series of positive repercussions on a personal level, in addition to improving functioning as a group.

Motivation must be trained every day, sending ourselves positive messages and proposing small achievable challenges. In short, learning to believe in ourselves.

Different studies show that a team that is motivated achieves greater successes and work performance. On the contrary, work becomes routine and, in this way, there is a decrease in productivity, in addition to the feelings related to job alienation.

List of motivational dynamics to use in groups and teams

Next, we go on to see different dynamics and techniques that can be used to increase the motivation of the teams. It is very important to take into account what the objectives of a dynamic are when it is applied to obtain the best performance in it.

1- The bare wire

Goals:

Achieve animate the group.

Contribute to concentration in moments of dispersion.

Time required:

Wide space in which the members of the group can sit in a circle.

Necessary materials:

None.

Steps to follow:

1- A classmate is asked to leave the room.

2- The rest of the classmates sit in a circle and hold hands. The facilitator tells that the circle works like an electrical circuit and that there is a bare wire. Together, they choose who will function as bare wire.

3- When they have made the decision, the partner who is outside the room is asked to enter. The group facilitator explains that the group is an electrical circuit and that there is a bare wire in it. You must use your wits to find out who it is.

Discussion

There is no correct or unique result in this dynamic. The facilitator must pay attention to how the activity is carried out and how the different members of the team participate. As a final reflection, you can ask how each of them felt throughout the exercise.

Other comments

This dynamic is very useful in moments of dispersion and stress to generate a relaxed and relaxed atmosphere among the members of a group.

2- Motivation Survey

Goals:

Get to know each other.

Know the motivations of the colleagues that make up a group.

Time required:

Half an hour, approximately. Depending on the size of the group.

Group size:

Any group, ideally more than ten people.

Place:

Ample space, covered or outdoors.

Necessary materials:

Paper and pen for each person.

Steps to follow:

1- The group facilitator will contextualize, by way of presentation, that every time we start a new activity, we do it for a reason. He will ask the members of the group what has been the motivation that has made them be there.

2- Individually, the members of the group will answer a series of questions of this type: why did I come to this activity? What is my state of mind today? What do I hope to obtain today? What am I willing to contribute today?

3- Everyone shares with the rest of the group, their concerns and what they have answered to the questions that the group facilitator raised at first.

Discussion:

It is important that the person leading the activity knows how to properly manage the comments of the different members of the group.

Other comments:

You can add an object, in order to respect each partner's turn to speak. That is, the only person who can speak is the one who has such an object in his hand.

3- Volunteers to form a group

Goals:

Show the importance of creating motivation in the group.

Think of ways to arouse the interest and concern of the participants in a given task.

Time required:

Fifteen minutes approximately.

Group size:

It is indifferent.

Place:

Wide and comfortable space.

Necessary materials:

None in particular.

Steps to follow:

1- The facilitator will ask, without giving any explanation, volunteers to carry out an activity.

2- When the required number of volunteers has left (this number will vary depending on the number of members of the group), ask the rest why they did not leave.

3- Ask the people who volunteered why they did it.

4- Reflect, in a group, on the concerns and fears that people may experience in a given situation. In addition, it is important to reflect on what strategies can be used to motivate people to volunteer for an activity.

Discussion:

It is normal that without knowing what activity they are going to carry out and without any kind of motivation from the facilitator, no volunteers appear. Therefore, the group must be made aware of what tools can be used to create a participatory climate.

4- The loop

Goals:

Increase group motivation through teamwork.

Promote group cohesion.

Time required:

45 minutes approximately.

Group size:

The group must not exceed 15 people.

Place:

Large living room.

Necessary materials:

Bow or string.

Steps to follow:

1- Two groups are created with the same number of participants. They are given the order that they cannot speak throughout the dynamic.

2- Once they are divided, a loop or string is placed from one side of the room to the other at the waist of the tallest person in the group. In addition, a line will be marked on the ground that cannot be walked on.

3- They have 30 minutes to go from one side of the room to the other, passing over the string and without stepping on the line marked on the floor.

Discussion:

The winning team will be the one that all its members have passed from one side to another before and complying with the rules. In case the thirty minutes have passed and none has finished, the team with the most members on the other side wins.

After completion, there will be a group reflection to see how they have felt and what obstacles they have had to overcome to reach the goal.

5- What does the group give me?

Goals:

Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the work done in that group.

Foster motivating memories.

Time required:

30 minutes approximately.

Group size:

It can be done in any group, even individually.

Place:

Workplace.

Necessary materials:

Paper and pen.

Steps to follow:

1- Write on a paper ten good things that the company contributes and teamwork within it.

Discussion:

If it is carried out in a group, not individually, a space will be created so that each one can share their opinion and see what are the points that the team has to work more on to keep the motivation of the members high.

6- Personal limitations

Goals:

Reflect on the weak points of each one.

Check that we all have limitations and that, really, they are not that serious.

Think of strategies and what tools can be used to improve them.

Time required:

45 minutes approximately.

Group size:

It is indifferent. The more people, the longer.

Place:

Ample space that allows group members to sit in a circle.

Necessary materials:

Paper and pen.

Steps to follow:

1- The group facilitator asks each person to write three limitations or weaknesses of each on a piece of paper. The name will not be put on that paper. After a few minutes, collect all the papers.

2- Distribute these papers in a random way so that each person has received one.

3- In order, each person is reading the weak points that appear on the paper as if they were their own. Also, they can exaggerate them. As you say them, discuss what strategies you can use to correct them or how you could improve them.

Discussion:

With this dynamic, new points of view will be offered on problems that affect us personally. In addition, it will be noted that we all have defects.

7- The highlights of life

Goals:

Think about personal motivations.

Time required:

Twenty minutes approximately.

Group size:

It can be adapted to small and large groups.

Place:

Ample space that allows group members to sit in a circle.

Necessary materials:

None.

Steps to follow:

1- The group facilitator will ask everyone to think about what 30 seconds of their life they would want to live again in the hypothetical case that they only had that period of time to live.

2- Reflect in that group. If the thought is intimate and if you do not want to share with the rest of the group, the person should not feel obligated.

3- The facilitator will be able to guide the reflection with the following questions: What does your choice say about you as a person? What talents or passions are you neglecting?

Discussion:

The task of the facilitator in this dynamic is to encourage people to fight for their dreams and to think about whether they are acting in the right way based on what they really want in their life.

8- be there

Goals:

Stimulate discussion and thoughts that group members have about motivation and awareness.

Time required:

About half an hour.

Group size:

It can be adapted to small and large groups.

Place:

Ample space that allows group members to sit in a circle.

Materials needed: none.

Steps to follow:

1- Divide the large group into teams. Depending on the number of members, they will be in pairs or in groups of 3 or 4 people.

2- The group facilitator will ask questions about the place where that specific group works. That is, about the office, classroom or school, etc. Also, on the characteristics of the different members or, on the tasks that each one of them performs.

Discussion:

The team that answers the most questions correctly wins. Participation can be encouraged with a prize.

9- How do my colleagues see me?

Goals:

Encourage motivation at the individual level and group cohesion.

Time required:

About an hour.

Group size:

It is indifferent. The more people, the longer.

Place:

Ample space that allows group members to sit in a circle.

Materials needed: envelopes, post-its in two different colors and a pen.

Steps to follow:

1- The group facilitator gives a name for each of the members with the name of each one of them. They will be delivered at random, without anyone receiving the envelope with their own name.

2- The idea is that the different members of the group write something positive and something negative about that person on paper. Each one of them in the color of the post-it that the facilitator has said. For example, the good thing in a green post-it and the bad thing in a red post-it.

3- Everyone is adding comments about all their classmates.

4- Sitting in a circle, each person is given their envelope. In turn, each one will open their own and read aloud the notes they have received. He will share with the rest of his colleagues how he has felt.

Discussion:

It is important that the facilitator encourages interaction among colleagues. That they have the opportunity to express themselves and that they can tell their colleagues why they made that comment on the post-it.

Other comments:

It is recommended that negative comments are accompanied by how they could improve that aspect so that it is not understood as a criticism.

10- Creating a logo

Goals:

Promote group cohesion.

Create an identifying element of the group.

Increase motivation at the group level.

Time required:

About half an hour.

Group size:

It can be used with small and large groups.

Place:

Large space in which everyone can feel comfortable working.

Necessary materials:

A large card and colors (pencils, markers, finger paints, etc).

Steps to follow:

1- The facilitator offers the card to the group and explains that they have 15 minutes to make a logo that identifies them as a group.

2- After time, the members of the group will be asked if they are satisfied with the work done, if they have felt heard by their colleagues, etc.

Other comments:

The final result can be posted in a visible place in the classroom or office so that they are aware of it. In addition, it can begin to be used as an identifying element of the group.

11- Coat of arms

Goals:

Motivate students to build moral values.

Time required:

60 minutes approximately.

Group size:

Small or large groups.

Place:

Ample space that allows group members to meet in subgroups.

Necessary materials:

Pens, sheets and markers

Steps to follow:

1- The participants are divided into subgroups and explained that they are part of a family from the Middle Ages. They must design their own coat of arms in which they will express their values ​​and thus be able to communicate them to their descendants.

2- The trainer will tell each subgroup to show their shield silently and the rest will have to interpret its meaning.

3- Finally, each student briefly comments on the values ​​that they wanted to capture on their shield.

12- Join the group

Goals:

Motivate group integration.

Time required:

About half an hour.

Group size:

Large groups.

Place:

Ample space that allows group members to move around.

Necessary materials:

None.

Steps to follow:

1- The trainer gathers all the participants and tells them to walk around the class, wherever they prefer. After a minute, the trainer calls out a number that will indicate the size of the groups to be formed. If you say 3, groups of three will be formed.

2- If a person is left alone, they must carry out an activity such as singing, dancing or imitating; always keeping in mind that it must be something positive and that encourages the individual.

Here is a video-summary with some of the most outstanding dynamics:

Other dynamics of interest

Group dynamics for young people.

Assertive communication dynamics.

Dynamics of self-esteem.

Dynamics of emotional intelligence.

Group integration dynamics.

Dynamics of creativity.

Trust dynamics.

Leadership dynamics.

Dynamics of conflict resolution.

Dynamics of values.

Presentation dynamics.

Teamwork dynamics.