In an attempt to motivate, it is not unusual for leaders with the very best of intentions to turn to a counter-productive approach.

S/he challenges the followers to reach for a certain level of performance. Upon reaching that level, the leader with little fanfare or celebration, challenges the followers to reach a higher level of productivity and on and on the cycle goes.

Although the leader believes s/he is motivating the followers in actuality the followers are getting more and more discouraged as they begin to realize the leader will constantly be exhorting them with the mantra Never Enough. Your productivity is never enough. Your effort is never enough. You are never enough.

Discouragement sets into the ranks.

How much better for a leader to constantly be serving as an encouragement to his/her followers – thanking them for their efforts and celebrating their successes and asking them to set their own goals as they move forward. Then the followers will have not only a greater sense of appreciation from the leader but will also have a greater ownership of the goals to which they wish to attain.

Categories: Communications, Goal Orientation, Task Completion, Vitality