From Frustrated to Enthusiastic -

How to inspire others to motivate themselves in the workplace

Recently more people are asking me how they can motivate their staff to: do more, take more responsibility, care more about the end results they produce, take more initiative and so on. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you can’t motivate others. Motivation comes from within. As an executive or business leader, it is your job to inspire others. Inspire others to be their best, to be productive and to be self-motivated.

How does one inspire? Let me give you a few tools to get you started. Let’s face it; we all need a compelling reason to get out of bed in the morning. A reason compelling enough for us to get it all together and out the door, or down to the home office or to wherever you produce your work product. That reason is personal, based on basic needs (such as I need a paycheck), but high performers need more. They need to feel that they are contributing to something bigger than they are, that they are making a contribution to a better world, a better life for others. They need to know that they are necessary and that they matter at a higher level.

This is where the leader comes in with the keys to inspiration. I invite you to think about the last time you shared your company’s vision and mission with your employees. Do all of your employees know and understand how each of them fit in the business. Do they understand the higher purpose that you as a business leader are projecting for the future, a future that ultimately affects them and their families? We all listen to that radio station in our heads, WIIFM (What’s In It For Me). As you need a compelling reason to get up and out, so do your employees.

I ask my clients to have a very clear sense of vision for their businesses, and once it has been clearly articulated and subjected to feedback, I ask that they share this with their staff. This sharing becomes personal; we don’t just draft something and send it out in an email to all. We develop a process for its distribution. We hold meetings to assure that people understand, and to demonstrate the importance of the company vision. We gain buy-in and reaffirm the commitment to see the vision become a reality.

This company vision is not only a tool for you, the business owner or executive, it is a tool to provide an incentive to your employees to want to jump out of that bed in the morning to get to your place of business to accomplish the tasks necessary each day to achieve your business dreams. Isn't it worth the time to assure that they are fully engaged and understand how each person fits into the overall plan. Isn’t it true that when you feel necessary and important, you step up to a higher level? When you create an environment where you staff understands the role they play, the necessity of their full- on participation they will play at a higher level. They are self- motivated through your inspiration.

It is then, that you can introduce your Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs). The staff will be ready and willing and excited to see the goals achieved. Leaders who take the time to share their vision, mission and values are likely to experience much higher employee morale. You all know, that when employee morale is high – productivity and profitability goes up. Are you ready to become inspire?