Myles Maillet, PhD.
Talk 1: Interest, Incentives, and Everything In Between: Understanding and Promoting Motivation
Despite our best intentions, we all encounter challenges and obstacles that can make it difficult to stay motivated. We experience days where we find ourselves less motivated to complete our work or check tasks off our to-do lists, or find ourselves less motivated to do specific tasks compared to others. Dr. Maillet’s talk helps individuals learn to recognize and respond to these difficulties by providing an overview of what motivation is (and the different types of motivation), where it comes from and how to increase it, as well as the importance of goal setting and self-regulation. Dr. Maillet debunks several common myths about motivation, such as the roles of reward and willpower in reaching one’s goals. He also discusses factors that enhance and diminish motivation (e.g., self-evaluation, interactions with others), and what happens when we experience different types of motivation (e.g., engagement vs. burnout). Finally, Dr. Maillet provides concrete strategies that can be used to foster effective forms of motivation within ourselves, and the knowledge to support the motivation of people around us in social, business, and organizational contexts. This talk provides information that is critical to enhancing motivation and goal achievement, which are integral components of productivity.
After this talk, attendees will be able to…
Understand what motivation is, the differences between motivation and productivity, and the roles of goal setting and self-regulation in motivation.
Recognize factors that lead people to develop different types of motivation, and how these types of motivation lead to different outcomes.
Learn to apply strategies to promote more effective forms of motivation in yourself and in others.
Talk 2: From Guilt to Enjoyment: Improving Motivation for Healthy Eating
It can be challenging to find the time or energy to eat healthy, or to resist the temptation of unhealthy sweets, snacks, and desserts. While many of us have an idea of what we should be eating (and eating less of), we might also find that actually doing so can be quite challenging. But for others, it may seem very easy to maintain a healthy diet. So, what sets these people apart? Dr. Maillet’s talk provides an introduction to different types of motivation and how they can impact people’s efforts to eat healthy. More importantly, he focuses on how we can develop more effective forms of motivation in ourselves while also improving our attitudes and well-being. Dr. Maillet outlines concrete strategies that individuals can use to help build healthy eating habits, and how motivation and habits interact in our daily lives. This talk provides fundamental knowledge for improving our motivation, attitudes, and habits for eating healthy.
After this talk, attendees will be able to…
Understand how our efforts to eat healthy are impacted by different types of motivation.
Identify key principles for building long-lasting healthy habits.
Learn to apply strategies to improve your own motivation for eating healthy.
Interested in one of these motivation talks? Get in touch!
Dr. Maillet provides speaking services on cultivating motivation Victoria, BC, and virtually across Canada. He also loves to travel, so contact us to inquire about opportunities in other cities.
About Dr. Myles Maillet
Dr. Myles Maillet (he/him) completed his Honours B.A. at Western University and completed his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Social Psychology at the University of Victoria. Dr. Maillet is an expert in motivation and self-regulation, and currently works as a Senior Economist with the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General where he researches behaviours and perceptions surrounding cannabis use, and the impacts of non-medical cannabis legalization in Canada. He also specializes in quantitative research methods, is a statistics and research methods consultant and university instructor in Victoria, BC.
Dr. Maillet has delivered lectures, talks, and presentations to academic, industry, and community audiences, including for Medify, Sniffspot, SSI, and the DailyHive, as well as executives in the Government of British Columbia, the Western Psychological Association, and the Capital Region District’s Traffic Safety Commission. He has also taught undergraduate courses on motivation, emotion, and well-being at the University of Victoria and Vancouver Island University, has led workshops on statistical methods for other researchers, and has received a Certificate of Teaching Excellence from the Council of Canadian Departments of Psychology. As a researcher, Dr. Maillet focuses on understanding how and why people set goals for themselves, how they work towards these goals, and why motivation matters for managing obstacles and challenges. Dr. Maillet applies principles of social psychology, recognizing that people’s goals, standards, and values are all influenced by their environments. He has received several awards for his research accomplishments and is an author on multiple peer-reviewed publications and scientific conference presentations, which cover topics such as healthy eating, alcohol consumption, the impacts of engaging with nature, and motivation towards learning (including the impact of remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic). When he’s not reading or writing, you can find Dr. Maillet playing sports with his friends, foraging for wild mushrooms, or paddle boarding around beautiful Vancouver Island.
“Engaging, fresh, and practical. Myles' talk was a fantastic complement to both our professional and personal goal planning. Clearly an expert in his field, his actionable tips and answers to our questions allowed our team to continue the discussion even after the talk.”
Greg Goulanian, Head of Marketing, SSI