April 22, 2008

C'mon Baby Light My Fire   Can you really light a fire under someone?  Can you really coerce an employee to do what you want them to do?  Dale Carnegie says you can't.  "People can never be forced to do an extraordinary job.  They will perform extraordinarily only if they want to.  The challenge is giving them a reason to want to," he continued.   What's the reason?  It varies from person to person.  And it can come from external forces and/or internal ones.   External forces that motivate people are: Praise Recognition Money Advancement Fear Possessions Challenges Success Respect Being in the winner's spotlight Awards Wanting to be the center of attention Acknowledgment A deadline   Internal forces can also create the desire within someone to perform at their best. Examples are: Sense of fulfillment An increase in a person's self-esteem Security Sense of accomplishment Sense of belonging Sense of duty, obligations Self-recognition and praise for a job well-done Greater self-respect Desire for harmony Philanthropic goals - the desire to make a difference in the world Safety Sense of responsibility Your morals Helping others   There are as many motivational techniques as there are motivating forces.  The key is to determine what motivates your employees and then deliver.   "However you do it, do it.  Let the people in your life know that you respect them, that you appreciate their work, that they are important to you and that you want them to learn, grow, and reach their potential.  Motivation, that's called," said Mr. Carnegie.       "Motivation is a fire from within.  If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly." Steven R. Covey   "To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun?"             Katherine Graham   "The only lifelong, reliable motivations are those that come from within, and one of the strongest of those is the joy and pride that grow from knowing that you've just done something as well as you can do it."             Lloyd Dobens and Clare Crawford-Mason   "Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score.  The real excitement is playing the game."             Donald Trump     What lights my fire and keeps me moving towards my goals and vision?  Accomplishment and completion of tasks, acknowledgment, sense of fulfillment, making a difference for someone, and knowing I did my best.  Sure, I get de-motivated sometimes, especially when I've been knocked off the balance beam. Self-doubt kicks in and I question myself.  That's when I learn from my mistakes and missteps and use that knowledge as a stepping-stone to get back on the beam and rekindle the fire.   I had several employees over the years in my dental practice.  Some, I would light a bonfire under, and it did not make a bit of difference.  They were motivated by external forces I could not deliver. (They never stayed too long.)  Most of my employees were highly motivated and it was a joy to work with them.  That's when the practice really soared.  Motivation does make a difference!   Have a fantastic week and keep the fires burning.            Stephanie   P.S.  I'll be inAlbany,NYlater this week speaking at an Appreciation Day.  To schedule one in your neck of the woods, contact me.  I can customize a program to fit the needs of your group.     We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com