Motivation: Getting Yourself Back on Track

Sometimes, all we need is something that can keep us motivated and get us back on track.  Maybe right now you are feeling like my story about “wet noodles” and need a little push.

Here are a few tips that I hope help you get back on track.

Appreciate failure - Many people find failure a bit too daunting. For them, failing – whether it’s a simple goal or a grand task – is enough to keep them from moving another finger. For successful people, failure is a teacher. It was difficult and demoralizing while they were at it.  But in retrospect, there is always something that can be gained from failing.

Communication and Correction in Business

As a leader in your team be careful what you send out.  Negatives can bring the whole team down, squish energy and slow down any momentum. Sending global angry emails to your group is never ever productive. Pick up the phone in those circumstances.  Email can build hard feelings and mistrust if you use it poorly.

Group correctional emails are also not usually productive. You need to use them sparingly (like almost never). Have a meeting with a few of your people that are messing up whatever it is, but don’t penalize the whole group for a few people. If you need to send a directional email that is fine, like a reminder that everyone needs to be on time or park in designated parking or whatever. Make it positive and even toned.

Practical Tips to Get Yourself Motivated

Wet Noodles…….  Wet noodles can have problems with starting a task or finishing…….  BUT….  The same goes with the rest of us.

It’s funny, I was always highly motivated to get things done, overachieve…….  Ahhhh…….  But wait……..  Always? Really? “Always” and “Motivation” almost never go hand in hand, anyone that says they are “always motivated” are either a machine or lying.

It’s funny, I remember in school being lazy……  My first job I was always on time and liked the people, I wasn’t lazy.  But then in my early 20′s I had a few bouts with laziness.  I finally found my internal motivation….  Winning…….  Yep, gold ole plain butt kicking other people……  Especially in sales and motivating others to over achieve for me……

Motivation is a Daily Battle in Your Mind

Motivation is a funny, complex thing.  You heard me talk about “pushing a wet noodle” in the last blog post, and how I have pushed “wet noodles” more than once.

The thing that motivates one person is always different from that of another even though they might be working for the same thing.  And while people can motivate other people, they can only do so to a certain degree.  This is very true!  While some of us are powerful motivators and appeal to 70-80% of people, we can’t motivate everyone, and there are some people out there who can’t even motivate a slug to move to a greener leaf!!

Communication and Your Team

Any communication sent your way is usually a time saver for you. Decide how to best use it. Don’t assume your people read their emails. Typically as people move up in a company their reading comprehension becomes more important, make sure you develop those skills in your people and yourself.

One of the biggest stresses for employees is often they feel “out of the loop” or like they aren’t told anything. This is a morale killer among a lot of other things. It is critical for you to develop a way to get information to your people. Or maybe you can do it for your supervisor. There is no perfect method, find something easy to maintain and understand. There are many important aspects of using emails and communication to help your team.

Rules of Motivation

Self motivation is huge………  An enormous challenge in all stages of life and in all arenas.  Whether it’s exercise, diet choices, looking for a new job, or excelling at the job you have.

Over the years I have seen many people who had every skill imaginable to be successful, they lacked one key component, motivation.  I can remember one of my first management jobs in my 20′s, I had an employee who would of made a great manager.  I tried everything to motivate him to do more and try more.

One day, MY manager asked me when I was going to