"In motivating people, you've got to engage their minds and their hearts. I motivate people, I hope, by example - and perhaps by excitement, by having productive ideas to make others feel involved."
--- Rupert Murdoch
The problem with finding motivating self-starters for your business is that statistically 100% of those you hire are not you. You are hiring folks who may like the work, (you hope), and who need or want a job. They may have an interest in the sign industry and want to learn the ropes for their own business one day, but they are not you and never will be. Cloning yourself to hire as team members has not been mastered yet so you are stuck with individuals who have their own thoughts, dreams, desires, and biases.
We all want others to think the way we do and especially in our businesses. You can teach them how to do the work, have them memorize the company's business mission, hypnotize them with the vision of the organization, and dip them in the secret sauce and it still won't create the workforce that cares about the business like you do.
"As a goalkeeper you need to be good at organising the people in front of you and motivating them. You need to see what's going on and react to the threats. Just like a good manager in business."
--- Peter Shilton
So your job as a business leader is more than steering the business and generating more sales. It is also motivating your workforce to do the things that you would do. It is putting a fire in their bellies and getting them to see the big picture that you have in your head. It is stirring them up and getting the team working together toward common goals.
To do this takes time, talent and energy, but there are some things that won't take too much of your time that you can begin doing this week. First, if you haven't already, come up with a slogan or mantra that is used for insiders only. This is different from your mission statement or advertising slogan. Something like, "Details Matter," or "Excellence in Everything," or like the late Oakland Raiders owner used, "Just Win Baby."
"Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important."
--- Bill Gates
Make that slogan an internal foundation for your team. Say it when you greet them in the morning. Use it at company picnics. Make awards with it on them, and so on.
Next, tell your story. Hold an informal meeting and share with everyone your life story. Tell them about the passion you have for the business and about how you got your start. Include all the obstacles and try to make the story an adventure, because it is. Use this session to motivate your team and get them on your side and in your story.
"There's always ways of motivating yourself to higher levels. Write about it, dream about it. But after that, turn it into action. Don't just dream."
--- Dan Gable
Finally, make every attempt to incorporate a plan of action in your motivational strategy. You don't have to be a rah-rah Tony Robbins or Dale Carnegie, though that is helpful. But make the motivation techniques action oriented. Show your team how to harness motivation to take action. The positive results lead to increased motivation leading to more positive action.
"Poverty was the greatest motivating factor in my life."
--- Jimmy Dean
