I often am asked if there is a “secret” to motivation. How do leaders inspire vast numbers of people to passionately embrace what their company stands for and be committed ambassadors of the brand?
Do not look for the answer in an appeal to the mind. It is found in the hearts and souls of people.
Commitment is a function of belief. Two characteristics stand out when observing employees who represent their company’s brand at the highest levels:
- They have total belief in their products or service.
- They have total belief in their company.
So where does this belief come from? Employees believe in their company when they know—indisputably—their company believes in them. How do they know their company believes in them?
Through the leaders of the company building a culture that encourages, empowers, rewards, and recognizes the contribution of each and every individual. Simple isn’t it? Yes, but not easy!
For this to happen, leaders have to put a high value on creating such a culture. That requires leaders to understand and apply their primary purpose as leader: to engage others in committing their energies and expertise to achieve the shared mission and goals of the organization.
People want to do good work, and many want to do great work. People love to be on a team and love to be on a winning team. People place a high value on contributing value and an equivalent value on being recognized for that contribution. People want to look forward to coming to work, and leaders feel the same way.
There is, therefore, no secret to motivation. It is about the engagement of the human spirit—the ability to capture the aspirations of the individual and provide a vehicle and environment for the fulfillment of those aspirations.
Peter Rena eloquently summed up these thoughts when he said:
“Corporations are social organizations, the theater in which people realize, or fail to realize, purposeful and productive lives.”
David McNally, CPAE, is the CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer) of TransForm Corporation. Elected to the Speakers Hall of Fame by the National Speakers Association (NSA), McNally is the author of the bestselling books, “Even Eagles Need a Push—Learning to Soar in a Changing World,” “The Eagle’s Secret—Success Strategies for Thriving at Work and in Life,” and “The Push—Unleashing the Power of Encouragement.” His co-authored book, “Be Your OWN Brand,” is used by many business schools to address the importance of building a strong personal brand. McNally’s books have been translated into 12 different languages and developed into corporate training programs that have been released in more than 20 countries. TransForm works with organizations to develop purposeful leaders who build inspired organizations and iconic brands. Clients include Ameriprise, Areva, Conway, Delta Airlines, Pulte Homes, and Thrivent. For more information, visit www.davidmcnally.com or e-mail info@transformcorp.com.
