Motivating Winners

Motivation and leading people effectively is tricky but one of the best actions we can take is to help people feel like winners.  When people feel like winners they are more apt to act like winners and do those things that winners do.  So here are 4 easy things to do to help others feel like winners. 

#1 Look for the Good

If things are going poorly, look for small wins.  This may take some creativity but we can nearly always find things that are going right.  We have a propensity as human beings to look for and high-light the bad—it’s just who we are, but finding the good, even if it is small, and recognizing it will help those we lead feel like winners.

#2 Establish Scoreboards

For people to know if they are winners or not there does have to be some type of scoreboard or goal or standard or measuring stick they are working toward.  There is nothing more frustrating than having to guess whether you are doing a good job or not as a team.  Having a clear scoreboard with clear metrics to achieve will go a long way in helping people feel like winners. 

#3 Celebrate

Celebrate victories even if they are small.  Not just recognizing but also celebrating successes will help build confidence in those we lead and will build a sense of camaraderie among the team.  Small celebrations high-lighting successes can lead to greater results.    

#4 Be Genuine

With all this being said we must be genuine in what we do.  We can’t fake small wins, or celebrations.  We have to actually be happy and enthusiastic about what we see as wins.  The more genuine we can be the better the message will be received and the more people will feel and believe they are winners which can lead to achieving greater things.     

It motivating when we feel like winners so it is important for us as leaders to help others feel that way.  Looking for the good, establishing scoreboards, recognizing and celebrating small wins, and being genuine can lead to bigger wins as a team begins to feel like winners.  Examine those you lead, are you helping them to feel like winners?  Effective leaders find ways to help others feel like winners.