MotivatingMe! Workshop: Helping Students Switch On and Step Up

At The Life Skills Company, we know the frustration that comes with watching a capable student drift. You see the potential. You know what they could achieve. But instead of staying focused, they seem distracted, unmotivated or overwhelmed. No matter how much encouragement, persuasion or support adults give, the student does not always respond. That is where our MotivatingMe! workshop makes a difference.

This is not about lecturing students or reminding them once again that their exams are important. It is about helping them take ownership of their goals, unlock personal drive and understand what success means to them. It is about shifting their thinking from “I have to” to “I want to.”

MotivatingMe! is a pragmatic and interactive workshop designed specifically for Year 11 students. It runs for just under two hours and is tailored to suit your group’s needs. We can work with selected students or entire half-year groups. What matters most is that every student who attends leaves with a personal toolkit of motivation strategies they can use immediately.

Why Motivation Fails

Before students can change their mindset, they need to understand what motivation really is. Many assume it is something that comes from outside. A teacher might inspire them. A parent might push them. But the truth is that long-term motivation is internal. If students do not feel connected to their goals or believe they are achievable, their motivation fades. They may even give up before they start.

That is why MotivatingMe! tackles both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. We explore how rewards and consequences can influence effort, but more importantly, we focus on what it takes to build lasting motivation from within.

The Power of Personal Goals

One of the most impactful parts of the workshop is the section on bite-size goals. Students often feel like their final exams are a huge mountain to climb. We break that down into manageable steps. When students learn to set short-term goals and recognise small wins, progress starts to feel real. That momentum builds confidence. It also helps them stay focused during the weeks and months ahead.

We also introduce the idea of personal relevance. It is not enough to tell students they should want good grades. We help them ask the question: What is in it for me? Whether it is pride, opportunity, freedom or simply proving something to themselves, the answer becomes a powerful motivator.

Tools That Actually Work

Throughout the session, students engage with a variety of techniques they can use immediately. This includes:

• Using sticks and carrots: Understanding how to reward effort and apply realistic consequences for avoidance.

• Planning for obstacles: Recognising what might derail them and coming up with solutions in advance.

• Self-talk awareness: Identifying the internal voice that shapes their confidence, their choices and their sense of control.

• The Three Fs: A simple model that helps them reframe challenges and shift into problem-solving mode.

We also work with students to challenge negative self-talk and introduce growth mindset strategies. Many students carry limiting beliefs. They may not say it out loud, but they think they are not clever enough, not organised enough or not motivated enough. By showing them how to rewrite that narrative, we give them a fresh way to view themselves and what they are capable of achieving.

Creating a Plan, Not Just a Buzz

The goal of MotivatingMe! is not to give students a temporary lift and then leave them where they were before. Every student leaves with a personal action plan. It is specific. It is practical. And it is theirs.

We believe motivation should lead to action. That is why we focus on next steps and support students to commit to simple strategies they can put into place that very day. From how they use their planner, to how they respond to distractions, to how they speak to themselves under pressure, they are equipped to take real steps forward.

Motivation Matters Now More Than Ever

Students today face more demands than ever before. Academic pressure. Social expectations. Future uncertainty. That is why helping them build the internal drive to navigate those challenges is not just a nice idea. It is essential.

Our MotivatingMe! workshop does more than talk about motivation. It activates it. It gives students the tools, the insight and the belief that they can do more than they think. And once they feel that, adults can stop chasing them and start cheering them on from the sidelines.

If you want your Year 11 students to take responsibility for their goals, build resilience and start moving with purpose, then MotivatingMe! is the workshop you need.

Get in touch with us at The Life Skills Company and book your workshop today. Let’s help your students switch on, step up and succeed.