I had a conversation recently when I was in Indonesia - I don't recall whom it was with but the subject turned to motivation and the person I was talking to started to talk about the need for rewards and charismatic leaders and the like but I did not agree and when I got back to my hotel room - I listed some of the things that I think motivate people - they certainly motivate me!
- listen to them
- show them respect
- help them find their voice
- have conversations with them
- show genuine interest
- give them help and support
- engage with them
- trust them
- give them responsibility
- give them recognition
- give them opportunities for self fulfilment and personal development
- don't try to tell them what to do
Now the crunch: you don't deliberately do these things to motivate people - that's not motivation - that's manipulation. You do them because you genuinely care in their development. Its more akin to the love you might show for a son or daughter than anything else.
