In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller tackle the dreaded "mid-year slump", that time when energy dips and motivation becomes scarce for both staff and students. Rather than pushing harder, they explore the neurobiology behind what actually drives us to take action. Dr. Miller breaks down the science of the "motivation switch" in the brain, the nucleus accumbens, and explains why choice, relevance, and connection are biological necessities, not just nice-to-haves.

Listeners will discover why motivation is not a fixed personality trait but a response to environmental conditions. The conversation unpacks Self-Determination Theory and offers leaders practical strategies to shift their teams from compliance to contribution. By learning how to offer authentic choices and co-create paths forward, educators can reignite agency and engagement even during the toughest stretches of the school year.

Download the Handout:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/CSH_handout_S6E19?x=OcaUHV

Hosts:

Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Mid-Year Slump

01:48 Neurobiology of Motivation

02:46 Visualizing Motivation Triggers

05:17 The Nucleus Accumbens

07:20 Autonomy and Choice

10:14 Self-Determination Theory

12:38 Biology Over Personality

15:24 Practice: Offering Meaningful Choice

17:37 Practice: Co-Creating Paths