The Hardest Part (Chapter 2)

So, how do we get to motivate our folks at work, so that they can become self-motivated? Ideal situation is when they do not need supervision, instead they need directions, they need resources, they need supporting structures and systems to help them do their work. In other words, you/me as the manager/leader just do that and get out of the way.

I believe it all comes down to four areas; namely body, mind, heart, and spirit. You see, until we know that someone else is engaging us in all four areas, we'll never really feel appreciated. We can be paid a huge sum of money, but our opinion is not wanted, our passion is not needed, and we are asked to 'dig a hole, then fill it'. How's that for motivation?

So, how exactly do we engage another in the body, mind, heart, and spirit realms? When it comes to body and mind, these two can be external motivational factors. Recognition for their contributions, rewards, benefits, and compensation; these are all external motivational factors. Rules and regulations, policies to abide by, adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) are also external motivational factors. If you've been following our discussion, you would quickly point out that the first group of external motivational factors are "towards", while the second group are "away".

So, for internal motivational factors, these are more to do with identifying the heart and spirit realms. Heart will include their passion, their conscience, their feel good factors, their feel bad factors. For instance, John C Maxwell preached about giving someone a reputation to keep. That is like saying, "well, I know that you are a responsible person, and you will do this to the best of your ability; won't you?" of course you've got to mean it. Don't use it as an emotional blackmail apparatus or it will backfire faster than you can spell "emotions". So, if you mean it, the person will definitely do his best. Because he is internally motivated away from being irresponsible or internally motivated towards being responsible.

Whether it is away or towards, it all depends on the individual. For someone it can be motivated towards, while for another it can be motivated away.

Finally on the issue of 'spirit', I don't mean it in the religious manner. It is more of the purpose of the person. For instance, when working with schools and teachers, we always link it back to the very reason why they came into this profession. Once we are able to help them link whatever they are doing to this particular reason, and here we are assuming they do it for benevolent reasons, it almost always lead to a more meaningful outcome.

Now, don't you want to know that whatever you do, your deeds are viewed as a force for good? Don't we all want to leave a legacy behind where our offsprings and generations after us will and can benefit from it? If you want that, so do your co-workers, your supervisees, your business partners, your associates, your parents, your children, your spouse, and everyone else.