“Knowledge along is not enough to get desired results. You must have the more elusive ability to teach and to motivate. This defines a leader; if you can’t teach and you can’t motivate, you can’t lead.”
-John Wooden
“A leader has two important characteristics; first he is going somewhere; second he is able to persuade other people to go with him.”
-Maximilien Fancios Roberspierre
“If you wish to succeed in managing and controlling others — learn to manage and control yourself.”
-William H. Boetcker
Any efforts by leaders to improve the motivational levels of their followers should be preceded by self-examination by the leader themselves...they should be aware of their own strengths and weaknesses as motivators.
With regard to motivation, it is important that leaders recognize that differences exist between individuals. Leaders should be sensitive to the divergence of needs, interests, and skills among their followers. As such, leaders have a responsibility to get to know each of their subordinates and to treat them as individuals. Leaders should be aware of the fact that the most effective, productive way to deal with a human being is to treat that person as a unique resource.
...the factors that help satisfy a person’s needs can be grouped into two broad categories — intrinsic motivators and extrinsic rewards. Intrinsic motivators come from the job itself and include an individual’s internal motivations, such as interests, values, and drives. Extrinsic rewards, on the other hand, are tangible incentives that are not inherent in the nature of the job.
Research suggests that people who view themselves as working primarily for money tend to perceive their tasks as less pleasurable and, as a result, they do not perform them as well. In other words, depending upon the circumstances, money can actually be a demotivating factor to a degree.
“Unless the job means more than they pay, it will never pay more.”
-H. Bertram Lewis
...increasing role clarity on a job has been shown to have a positive effect on task performance.
“Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
-Harvey MacKay
Another way that leaders can enhance motivational levels in the organization is to cultivate an environment of motivation within the workplace. In other words, the climate within the workplace should be such that it facilitates job performance.
Enhancing work environment:
-Have an open door policy.
-Never make promises that you know you can’t keep.
-Establish an atmosphere of mutual respect between you and your followers.
-Adopt a positive attitude toward the organization’s vision and goals and the ability of people to perform in a way that enables the vision and goals to be achieved.
-Lead by example.
-Give people the attention they require.
-Challenge people.
-Keep the channels of communication open at all times.
-Have an open mind.
“One of the illusions of life is that the present hour is not the critical, decisive hour. Write on your heart every day is the best day of the year."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
A common mistakes made by many leaders is to fail to follow up an organization directive with personal interaction with key members of the staff whose job it is to carry out those initiatives.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
-Henry Ford
Perhaps the single most important action a leader can take to motivate individuals in the organization is to involve them more fully in the steps that are undertaken to establish individual goals and responsibilities.
