Karen Keller
Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.
– Explorer Ernest Shackleton in a 1890 job ad for the first Antarctic expedition
How’s that for motivating? Apparently it worked since Shackleton’s ad drew hundreds of young adventure seekers! See what Shackleton appealed to? Not the fear of dying but the excitement of adventure!
You can powerfully motivate your followers just like Shackleton did in 1890!
A person’s motivation depends upon two things; the strength of certain needs and the perception that taking a specific action will satisfy those needs. For example, you haven’t eaten all day and you see a great restaurant. Now, to enter the restaurant you have to cross a busy intersection that has no stoplight or crossings. What will motivate you to cross the street? Well, it will depend on how hungry you are that you will risk crossing the street. Which motivation is greater; your hunger or the desire to avoid being hit by a car?
There is no easy answer to figuring out what motivates people. What I do know is motivation is deeply connected to the complex range of forces that lead a person in one direction or another. And these forces are not always within your awareness. Also, if two people are being lead by the same force they may choose two completely different courses of action.
Motivation 101: What Powerful Female Leaders Do
In a leadership position you have the obligation and responsibility to influence others’ motivation. There is a natural progression of what you can do to increase motivation in the quickest, most effective way possible.
Here are steps women leaders take to motivate people to meet deadlines, perform at their peak, or solve problems with creativity (or anything else for that matter);
Build Bridges. Create a connection between the person’s needs and your business or organization’s needs. Similarity is very attractive. More than that, when people see that meeting the needs of the company will also meet their own personal you have installed a win-win mindset.
Be the Example. Nothing is more motivating from a leader who practices what she preaches. Turn the tables; how motivated would you be if your leader didn’t buy into what she was promoting? It would not only ‘un-motivate’ you, it would push you further along to not trusting her.
Care about Morale. Morale is not only the mental, emotional and spiritual aspect of a person but on many persons at the same time in the same place. It is natural for the woman leader to be in tune with these dynamics within people. You look closely and listen even closer to what is really being said.
Collaboration. You allow your team or VIP group to participate in all aspects of the process. Whether its problem solving, brainstorming, or critiquing, you build ownership at all stages of the process. When people know the role they get to play as part of the team communication is better, efficiency increases and major work gets completed – on time!
Be a Protector. You know the importance of crafting security and safeness in the people you lead. Don’t you feel motivated, daring and eager when you know there is a safety net (your leader) below? I do.
Recognize. Respond. Reward. Practicing these three R’s is what they are waiting for. Every human being has the innate need of contributing something worthwhile. All great leaders take this simple law of human nature as the easiest way to lead.
Putting these steps in practice all at once, builds strong relationships between you as leader and the people who depend on you for choosing the correct course. They will build your reputation as a leader who does more than talk the walk. Now, get your boots on – your following is waiting!
