How to Motivate Myself and Others
Leadership training is always partly to do with motivation.
All leaders need to develop the skill of motivation.
Motivation is a specific emotion. All emotions are a product of thought, because whatever you think about causes an emotion.
Emotions are NOT CAUSED by external facts. It is internal thoughts that is the cause of an emotion. Facts don't cause feelings.
The true cause of feelings are your thoughts:
- If your thoughts are positive, then your emotions will be positive.
- If your thoughts are negative, then your emotions will be negative.
- You feel whatever you think about.
If you want other people to feel positive, then you need to influence their mind to think about something positive.
And as a leader, you need to know how you can make the other person think about things that will make them feel positive.
To make the other person think about things that will make them feel positive, ask them questions that will focus their mind onto the following four things:
- Their goals. What they want for themselves and their family for the future.
- Their plans on how to achieve their goals.
- The action that they can do next.
- How great it will be when they achieve their goal.
Learn the above list of question types. Memorise them well and then use this list as a guide to your conversations with others.
- What do you want to achieve in the next (few months)?
- What do you need to do to achieve your goal(s)?
- What can you do today to take you one step closer to your goals?
- How will you feel when you achieve your goal?
Keep repeating these questions; but use different words and phrases. These thoughts will trigger emotions of:
- Motivation.
- Desire.
- Excitement.
- Ambition.
- Enthusiasm.
- Confidence.
- Energy.
- Faith and hope.
At the same time, do not ask people questions about the following:
- Don't ask them about all the bad things could happen in the future.
- Don't ask them about the bad things that have already happened in the past.
- Don't ask them about any negative gossip or office politics.
Too many conversations are about these three things.
- The first induces fear or worry.
- The second induces anger or upset.
- The third induces nosiness and negativity.
Keep your conversation under control and focus the content of your conversations onto:
- Goals for the future.
- Plans on how to achieve the goals.
- Actions that can be taken today.
- How it will feel when we win.
Quiz: Are You a Positive Influence on Others?
Try our Positive Influence Quiz to discover if you have a positive influence on others.
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Motivation Question Technique
In leadership coaching, the Motivation Question Technique uses open, forward-looking questions that get a person to state their goal, shape a plan, pick the next action and picture how good success will feel. These four parts work together to spark positive emotion and drive; drop one and the method fails.
CG4D Definition
Context: Leadership coaching
Genus: Communication technique
- Asks open questions about the person’s future goals
- Guides the person to outline a step-by-step plan
- Prompts selection of a clear next action
- Invites vivid imagining of the positive feeling of success
Article Summary
Motivation starts with thought, so leaders who ask about goals, plans, next steps and the win ahead shift minds to hope and action; this simple focus turns talk into energy and keeps doubt and gossip out.