Career Advice - Motivation Tips

Keeping Your Staff Revved Up

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

I've always been a very self-motivated person, and it's led to my job as manager ... of three people who definitely do not share that characteristic. They come into work with the best of intentions, but by midday I've lost them. I need everyone to stay on-task so that we can meet our goals each month, but I'm at a loss as to how to motivate everyone. I'd really rather not use fear as a tactic, but I can't think of other ways. Can you help?

Sincerely,

High-Energy in HR 

A:

Dear High-Energy in HR,

You're going to need to figure out what methods will work for motivation in your specific workplace. Monetary compensation? Lunches on Friday? A pat on the back and a, "Job well done!"?

But no matter what tactics you use, there are some factors that motivate EVERYONE. If you can keep these in mind, you'll have a much better shot at figuring out what your staff needs.

* Motivation is a function of energy. If you don't have energy, no matter how motivated you feel, you can't perform. Make sure you're getting enough good sleep, exercise and food to increase your motivation. 

* People are usually motivated because they want a payoff. If you're not motivated, you may not care about the payoff or you may not care enough about the payoff. Rethink the project. 

* Loss of perspective will stop motivation. If you forget why you're doing something or how lucky you are to have the situation in the first place, you may lose your motivation. 

The core reasons that people regress are the opposites of the reasons that they plow ahead:

* Low energy

* Lack of interest in the payoff

* Loss of perspective

 

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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