5 Simple Ways to Become a Master Motivator

“A pat on the back is worth a lot more than a kick in the fanny.”
Charles Nirenberg

One of the most common ways to motivate others continues to be the old carrot and stick philosophy. This general philosophy entails a reward being dangled in front of someone in hopes that it will motivate them to do what you want them to do. Though this philosophy may be useful at times, there are other more effective and easier ways to motivate people. Below are a few suggestion that will help us break away from the old methods and make us master motivators in today’s environment.

#1 Look for the Good

Many managers persistently point out and correct bad behavior. However, good leaders have learned that positive attention and encouragement is more valuable in producing great results. Indeed, offering encouragement and pointing out the good is much easier than trying to lead someone to change by pointing out the bad. For this reason, positive reinforcement and simple recognition for the good people do works.

#2 Notice

Often praise and recognition is held on to or delayed until a job is completed, however people like to know that what they are doing now is being noticed and is important. For this reason, it is motivating when we are recognized and reassured in our progress toward the completion of a task. Learning to recognize others not only at the end but also during a project will motivate them to do better.

#3 Celebrate

When projects are completed or a goal is met, make sure to celebrate. Providing a sense of accomplishment and victory through celebration will motivate others to achieve more. Quickly or half-heartedly acknowledging an accomplishment or not celebrating a goal at all once it is achieved will create a feeling of insignificance.  And this will quickly lower motivation.

#4 Enthusiasm

Being enthusiastic motivates others. When you have energy and are excited about what is going on, even during stressful times, others will feel it and will join you.  Having positive energy and enthusiasm will help brighten everyone’s day.

#5 Express Appreciation

Finally, show appreciation for a job well done. Let people know often how much you appreciate what they are doing. And share with them how what they are doing helps you personally because people want to feel they are helping others. Expressing sincere and frequent appreciation will go a long way in motivating those you lead.

Rather than simply using the old carrot and stick philosophy, use these simple ideas to motivate others.  Looking for the good, noticing, celebrating, being enthusiastic and expressing appreciation will make you a master motivator in today’s environment and they will have a huge impact not only on others but also on yourself.

3 Things you Must do to Change Your Life

Have you ever heard of the Good Health Triangle?  If you haven’t, it is about time you did!  The Good Health Triangle provides 3 areas we must concentrate on in order to be healthy and happy.  Poor health plagues our society and robs us of our ability to live life to its fullest.  Thus developing healthy habits now around the three points in the Health Triangle is critical to our overall success and happiness in life.

The 3 points in the Health Triangle are as follows.

#1 Eating Right

I have an 8 month old in my house and as I was feeding my son the other day, I noticed the stark contrast between our diets.  As I was filling his tummy with squash and carrots (which he seemed to love by the way), I felt a little nauseated from the cheeseburger and fries I had just consumed.  I realized at that moment that when we are very young we generally eat healthy however when we grow older, we seem to become conditioned to not eat so well.  My son was proof to me that day that we can eat right and even be happy doing it.  Eating good, wholesome food is a great start to being healthy and changing our life. 

#2 Physical Activity

The next point in the Good Health Triangle is regular physical activity.  I know this may sound annoying to some but there is no denying that exercising regularly improves our self-esteem, confidence, and outlook on life.  When we participate in physical exercise our body actually releases endorphins that help us to feel good and gives us energy.  If we can find a way to exercise 30 minutes at least 6 days a week, we will find ourselves to be much more satisfied in life.

#3 Sleep

The final point in the Good Health Triangle is getting good sleep.  On average, experts say we should strive to get around 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.  And if possible, we should strive to retire to our beds early and arise early in the morning.  I believe much of our society has developed very poor sleeping habits.  This sad because bad sleeping habits leads to higher levels of stress and anxiety.  As we strive to develop good sleeping habits, we will be happier and we will literally change our life. 

Eating healthy, physical activity, and good sleep habits make up the three points of the Good Health Triangle.   2014 is upon us and it is time to change our lives and ensure we have a great year.  Let’s make commitments to live a healthier and thus happier life.  I promise that doing these 3 things will change your life.        

In Search of Excellence

I recently finished reading a book called “In Search of Excellence, Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies” by Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman Jr.  The book was insightful and provided some very valid points that I believe if practiced, can help each one of us find excellence not only in business but in life.  Below are a few of my favorite points from the book. 

#1  Winners

The book emphasized how excellent companies motivate their teams and that is through allowing them and helping them to feel like winners.  Unfortunately, in business and in life we tend to focus on the negative and where we fall short rather than all of the good that is being accomplished.  Great companies develop systems that allow the majority of their people to win!  In fact, the book states that excellent companies “actively seek out and pursue endless excuses to give out rewards.”   In life, I feel we’d do ourselves a big favor by actively seeing the good and finding ways to celebrate our successes despite our failures.  I know that what we focus on we become.  So, if we change our perspectives and see the good, we will believe in ourselves and believe in others which will help each of us to act like winners.  According to the authors and their research, such is the philosophy of excellent companies. 

#2  Purpose

The authors point out that man is constantly searching for purpose in life and that great companies provide purpose for their teams.  This purpose is clear and easy to understand by all who work within the organization from the CEO to the last staff member.  One example from the book is a janitor who was mopping the floors diligently at NASA.  He was approached and asked by a visitor why he was working so hard and his response was in essence because he was helping to put a man on the moon.  I love this!  This man had purpose!!  Purpose provides clarity, focus, and motivation to do our best.  As in great companies, successful people live with purpose.  They know what they want, why they want it, and then they strive to get there.  As people, we are willing to sacrifice a great deal when there truly is a cause we understand and believe in.  Thus as with excellent companies, excellent people live with purpose. 

#3  Loose-Tight

According to the authors, great companies have a loose-tight philosophy meaning they are strict or “tight” on a few things only then they allow nearly total autonomy (loose) outside of these few things.  This reminds me of an interview I heard about on the radio with Pete Carroll the current Seattle Seahawks coach who seems to espouse this same philosophy.  For the most part, the Seahawks have very few rules but exceptionally high standards.  Each player is allowed to do basically whatever they want as long as they meet those standards and this philosophy has seemed to pay off for the Seahawks.  I believe as leaders in our homes, families, places of work, or really in any aspect of our lives if we can develop the same type of mentality or philosophy, we will find greater success.  We need to be strong and unbending on a few basic principles or values but outside of those we should be willing to allow others or ourselves freedom to act.  Living this philosophy endears trust and a belief and respect in others which in turn creates great environments and cultures. 

I strongly believe that these are three principles that can have a big positive impact in our lives.  As we strive to see winners, live with purpose, and develop a loose-tight philosophy, I have no doubt we will see greater outcomes in our lives.  

To see how I rated this book, click here. 

Looking for Excitment in 2014?

"People are not lazy, they simply have no goals.  Take action now and set goals that inspire you!”

Most people I know are not lazy.  In fact the people I know are hardworking, honest people who want to have success.  For whatever reason though, many of us lead uninspired lives that lack consistent progress and the reason I believe is because most of us lack goals.      

So we are nine days in to the New Year, how are things coming?  I hope each of us is on top of some pretty fantastic resolutions but if not, no sweat, after all we do not need a certain date on the calendar to tell us when to start a new goal.  So for those who haven’t started, why not get started now?

Goals inspire change and encourage us to reach our potential.  Goals get our juices flowing and help us focus our energy and efforts.  Without them, progress will be uncertain but with them, progress is guaranteed.  Setting goals can lift us to greater heights and will help us find greater satisfaction in life.  Without goals, life quickly becomes boring and mundane but with them comes positive energy and excitement.  In fact I know of nothing more thrilling than setting a goal and then working hard to achieve it. 

So if you are looking for some excitement in life, set a goal or maybe even two.  Don’t let stress, fear, busyness, or anything else stop you.  I know of no better way to inspire each of us to change and reach our potential than setting goals.            

 

PS. If haven’t had a chance, I’d encourage you to read today my blog posted two weeks ago on two strategies for accomplishing goals…Let’s make 2014 the best!