Martin Luther King Jr. Mahatma Gandhi. Abraham Lincoln. All of these men were great leaders that brought incredible and lasting change in the world. What is something else they all had in common? They all were great motivators who rallied people towards meaningful action.
Let’s face it, the amount each of us can accomplish on our own is limited, so it’s necessary to have the assistance of others. Inspiring others to do their best is an incredibly valuable talent. When we inspire others, we can accomplish much more.
You can become a master of motivation with these ten simple tips!
- Be emotionally supportive. To help others shine, remove the fear of failing or looking foolish. Most people are frozen by fear and prefer to remain comfortable. When fear is greater than motivation, nothing happens. Removing fear can be just as effective as instilling additional motivation.
- Provide additional support. Ask what resources are required. Does an employee require additional help or funds to get a project off the ground? Perhaps your child needs a tutor or assistance with creating a resume. Determine what resources are required for success and provide them.
- Follow up regularly. Show that you care by monitoring their progress. It’s enough to ask and then listen. Asking questions and letting them talk it out will also help to keep them on track.
- Be publically supportive. It’s one thing to support an employee in the privacy of your office, it’s quite another to be supportive in front of her co-workers. Parents can be guilty of this, too. Don’t just only support your children around the dinner table, shout out your support at the soccer game too.
- Acknowledge and reward. Acknowledge progress and effort regularly. Everyone needs a little boost now and then. Ideally, give acknowledgment publically. Conversely, correction and any discipline should be handled privately.
- Ask for ideas. You might even hear a few ideas that are better than your own! It’s easier for others to get excited about their own ideas and to run with them than it is to get excited about someone else’s. Using, and celebrating, ideas from your team will create a sense of purpose and involvement.
- Be clear. Being vague breeds confusion. Confusion saps enthusiasm. When the objective and the necessary steps are clear, motivation is easier to generate. Ensure that everyone is clear on their role.
- Set a good example. If it’s important to you, it will be important to your employees, spouse, or children. Don’t just tell them it’s important, but show them by your behavior. Make the objective a priority in your own life.
- Create vision. Paint a picture of the desired result for those involved. Even if it takes hard work to get there, help them to keep reaching for the prize! Remind everyone of the greatness of the goal. The work is the path to reach that endpoint.
- Deal swiftly with dissenters. Unfortunately, sometimes one dissenting, charismatic employee can bring the whole thing project to a standstill and bring discouragement to the rest of the group. Sometimes there may be one complainer that tries to undermine the enthusiasm of everyone else. Don’t underestimate the damage this one person can do. Have a heart-to-heart conversation with them and address their reservations about the project to see if they can be persuaded to get back on board. If that doesn’t work, quietly move them out of the group.
Remember that good motivation isn’t just about adding positive motivation, it’s also about removing the obstacles. Dissenters are obstacles. It is good to encourage the sharing of opinions, but, once a decision has been made, expect cooperation.
Encourage others to do their best work or to follow their dreams. Motivating others is a skill that anyone can develop. Success can be so much greater when like minded people work together towards a goal.
Great leaders inspire others to achieve new heights and to go further than they ever thought possible. It can be a challenging task, but become a better motivator and you will have the power to change the world!
Are you searching for your dream…your purpose? Looking to find more freedom, love, balance, a second calling, or lead a more inspired, deeper and heart-centered existence?
With Stella Frances life coaching you can find your happy!
