Motivation at Work: Feed Your Spirit & Your Bottom Line!

“If your people aren’t heading in the right direction, don’t motivate them.” - George Odiorne

I love this message because it highlights the absurd to make a wonderful point that could be utterly transformational if we embrace the deeper meaning. It also lets humor creep back into the wonderful world of work! Here’s what I mean; see if this resonates with you. Does your team get the “why” or the “where” behind the process change, policy or new system? Do they understand the real impact of their individual roles and unique talents?When we understand why, we open the door to knowing purpose, and to seeing the big picture. Things that once seem disconnected, start to make more sense … our jobs take on more meaning AND we become empowered to make better decisions… decisions that are aligned with the intent behind the task, the policy or the job description.

If you separate spirit from work, you do your soul a deep disservice. Work is an expression of who we are. When we forget that, our work becomes empty and is no longer fulfilling. We spend far too many hours, days, weeks, months and years working for it to be just a way to earn a living.

Imagine what would happen if we saw our work as an expression of who we are? Imagine what would happen if we entered into our work asking - What can I do to make this a better place to be, work and grow? Our actions directly impact the lives of family members, friends, coworkers and the customers with whom we interact. You make real contributions to the world through your work.

Everything you do touches someone else. Imagine a world where all actions are guided by the realization that we have profound and significant impact on many life experiences beyond our own?

You are truly unlimited potential! You can do, be or create anything you desire. Do not buy into anyone or anything that tells you otherwise. Life and work are meant to be experienced fully.

So, what do you want to create, do or be? Think about it and enjoy every step of your amazing journey!           

The power to make things happen lies in the present moment… not tomorrow, not yesterday and not five years from now.When you want to create a meaningful shift in your business or in your personal life - do it now!

If you can not make peace with where you are now, you will never reach your dream of bigger and better things.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t set loftier goals or move into new territories. On the contrary - we will always be called to imagine new products and to expand our team’s ability to better serve our ideal customers. What it means is this; we can not attract our desired outcomes if our focus is on not having what we want.

When we focus on a problem or issue, we give more energy to the thing that we do not want. Instead appreciate all that you’ve already achieved. Then shift your focus to what you want by directing your attention to the desired outcome. Once you change your focus, you open yourself up to a completely new set of possibilities that can not enter your consciousness if you remain focused on the problem.

Albert Einstein once said “You can’t solve a problem with the same thinking that created it in the first place”. When you direct your attention to what you want, instead of what you don’t want, you’re stepping out of the thinking that created the problem.

When you make peace with where you are, you are appreciating what you have already accomplished and are then in a position to receive more of what you truly desire.

To the infinite possibilities before you!

Consider the obstacles you see in your path. Are you meeting your sales goals? Is your team enthusiastically delivering the results needed to achieve your business objectives?

Almost every obstacle we experience in business, and in our personal lives, can be traced to the initial stage of conception and design. Think about what happens when you launch a new product, change a process or set a goal. It starts with an idea … and an idea always begins with the imagination. From there you take the necessary steps to manifest your desired outcome.

Lets pause then and consider the first stages of a new idea or goal.

1. How does your vision impact the desired outcome?

2. What is necessary to ensure great results?

Lets’ start with question 1. Your vision has more impact on your results than any other step you will take on your journey. The reason - a masterpiece begins with a clear vision of the desired outcome. Just as an architect would not start pouring a foundation without a comprehensive blueprint, so too your vision requires clarity. The clearer your vision, the more likely it is that you will receive the intended results. Being specific pays big dividends with lower implementation costs and better employee morale. Specficity doesn’t mean you stifle creativity or micromanage the process.

Clarity enables decisions that are aligned with your desired result. With a clear vision you’re well equipped to align your people, processes and profits. If you’re unclear about your desired outcome, so too are your employees or partners.

Now consider question 2. Let’s assume that great results are a smooth project that ends in an outcome that meets or exceeds your real underlying objectives. What then is required to ensure positive results? The bottom line - communication … whether it’s internally focused for our personal goals, or externally focused when we communicate business objectives to our team. A clear and compelling message enables a good roadmap. Of course, it’s the people behind the steps that determine the quality of the end result. So, understanding human behavior is paramount to getting great results.

To connect, inspire and energize your team - create a communication strategy that motivates and inspires. People need to understand the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) factor on a personal level. How does the change or goal affect your employees? You? Your managers? The impact may translate to: lighter work loads, more time with family, career growth, new skills, new social contacts, a greater sense of community, more ideal customers, a healthier workplace … more revenue means more opportunities for everyone.

Do your employees understand how they benefit personally and professionally? An effective communication strategy is like an internal marketing campaign. It generates enthusiasm and helps you improve the likelihood that you will reach your desired destination faster and with fewer obstacles.

May your path be clear of obstacles and your destination just as you imagined!

To the infinite possibilities before you!