How to Motivate Someone to Change

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How to Motivate Someone to Change

To motivate people to change, use the Pleasure / Pain Questioning Technique (PPQT).

In order to motivate change in someone, ask these two questions and try to get multiple answers to each. The more answers to each question you can get, the better this technique will work to persuade others to change.

1. What are the LONG-TERM painful consequences you will suffer if you don't change (ie keep doing it)?
2. What are the LONG-TERM pleasurable benefits you will enjoy if you do change?

Ask these questions, in the order given, (PAIN then PLEASURE) and get as many answers as you can for both questions.

Here are some examples of how you might use this technique:

Imagine you want someone to stop over-spending.

What are the LONG-TERM painful consequences you will suffer if you keep spending more money than you earn?

What are the LONG-TERM pleasurable benefits you will enjoy if you spent slightly LESS than you earned, and invested a little, every month?

Imagine you want someone to stop over-eating.

What are the LONG-TERM painful consequences you will suffer if you keep overeating; consuming more calories than you need?

What are the LONG-TERM pleasurable benefits you would enjoy if you controlled your intake, so you were consuming slightly fewer calories than you need?

Imagine you want someone to stop talking too harshly.

What are the LONG-TERM painful consequences you will suffer if you keep talking to people so harshly that they don't want to work with you?

What are the LONG-TERM pleasurable benefits you would enjoy if you moderated your communication style, softened your approach, so that people would be very happy to work with you?

The pleasure pain principle.

The important thing to remember about people, is they tend to avoid pain and move towards pleasure.

So, you need to associate PAIN with not changing, and associate PLEASURE with making the change.

But you cannot tell them, you must ASK them.

• If you TELL them, they will fight you.
• If you ASK them the right questions, they will persuade themselves.

The moral of the story is: Learn and apply the Pleasure Pain Questioning Technique.

About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years’ experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

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Further Reading in Motivation

• How to Find Positive Motivation
  People who have positive motivation are more likely to feel empowered and be more adaptable in difficult circumstances. Find out how to develop a positive mind-set.
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• Give Yourself Positive Feedback
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• How to Motivate Myself and Others
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• How to Gain Respect
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• Motivational Emotions
  Motivation comes in many forms: some positive and some negative. Which of these three motivational emotions do you think are the most effective: fear, anger or desire?
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