How You Motivate People

Posted on December 1st, 2012

Remember the overarching principle – It’s show time all the time.

In a leadership role, and anyone who is responsible for the performance of others is a leader, you are always setting an example whether consciously or not. If you’re hacked off who is going to pick it up? Everyone.

Last time you were in your office how motivated did you appear to your team? Management guru Tom Peters says ‘Whatever it takes. By hook or by crook you must motivate yourself first’.

Goethe wrote an amazingly insightful description of leadership:

‘I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element.

It is my personal approach that creates the climate.

It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

I possess tremendous power to make a life miserable or joyous.

I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.

I can humiliate or humour, hurt or heal.

Develop your own way of getting back in the zone. Be an enthusiast. Stand up straight, smile – act the part. Take yourself to a private place and laugh out loud or run as fast as you can on the spot – whatever it takes!

The second principle is:

Get people involved.

It’s motivational and engaging. Find ways to involve others. Ask for feedback. People are rarely 100% supportive of a direction they played no part in formulating.

If you talk at people instead of with them they’re unlikely to buy in.

One of the most motivating questions you can ask a team member is ‘What would you do if you were me?’. And then really listen. If there is something worth implementing, act and give credit to the person involved.

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