Speak Like a Leader
Christopher Witt www.wittcom.com
To Motivate and Inspire
Leaders motivate, inspire, and influence others to take the initiative, work toward a common purpose, accomplish tasks, and achieve organizational objectives.
—The Army Field Manual on Leadership
Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there. They cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there.
— John Kotter
Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.
- Dwight Eisenhower
“
”
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.
- John Quincy Adams
“
”
Motivation gives people incentives to take action towards achieving short-term goals.
Inspiration urges people to act in accord with their most authentic self.
To learn more about “How Leaders Speak,” go to http://www.wittcom.com/how_leaders_speak_article.htm
To Motivate, First Un-demotivate
Identify those factors that demotivate…
Rules
Routines
Procedures
Practices
Mindsets
Relationships
Assume that people start out motivated,
and that something has demotivated them.
Photo courtesy of foilman at klickr.com
What demotivates your people?
Common Demotivators
Lack of knowledge or ability
Lack of clarity
Lack of recognition
Denial of self-initiation
Overwork
Favoritism
Gossip / office politics
Mistrust
Miscommunication
More Common Demotivators
Being treated as disposable or expendable
Receiving inadequate recognition and reward
Bureaucracy and Red Tape – Unproductive and
endless meetings – Endless paperwork and
required approvals – Insufficient training – Failure to communicate – Infrequent delegation of
authority – Lack of a credible vision
- Harvard Business Review
How to Un-demotivate
1. Identify the demotivator.
2. Remove or lessen it, if possible and if desirable.
3. Help people live with it, as necessary, without feeling victimized…or to move on.
To motivate people, ask three questions.
1. What do you want them to do?
(Be clear, specific, immediate.)
2. How do you want them to do it?
3. Why would they want to?
“Because I told you so” isn’t sufficient reason…at least not for adults.
What motivates your people?
Photo courtesy of AJU_photography at flickr.com
External Motivators
Money
Job security
Good working conditions
Good boss
Friendly people
Vacations
Internal Motivators
Interesting, challenging work
Opportunity to excel
Recognition
Self-fulfillment
Good relationships
Making a contribution
Self-determination
To Motivate People…
1. Tell them exactly what you want them to do.
2. Limit the time or effort that you’re asking for.
3. Appeal to their emotions.
4. Show them how their actions will benefit them.
5. Share in the sacrifice.
Motivation doesn’t last, but neither does a bath.
And you don’t stop bathing,
do you?
- Zig Ziglar
Photo courtesy of Blackpit Shooting at flickr.com
Motivation Inspiration
Inspiration urges people to act in accord with their most authentic self.
Motivation gives people incentives to take action towards achieving short-term goals.
Motivation To see a motivational speech, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwoXJernqCc
In the movie Patton, the general (played by George C. Scott) , addresses his troop on the night before battle.
His message is simple, direct, and immediate.
What does he want his troops to do?
To advance, never retreat, and kill the enemy.
Why should they do what he wants them to?
Because if they don’t kill the enemy, the enemy will kill them.
Inspiration To hear an inspirational speech, go to http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurthayeraward.html
General Douglas MacArthur was the Supreme Commander of the Southwest Pacific Area during World War II and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
In 1962 he spoke to the cadets at West Point.
His message was moving, personal, and aspirational.
What does he ask of his audience?
To embody West Point’s code of “Duty, honor, country.”
What does he offer in return?
The privilege of being an officer.
How to Inspire
• Be inspired.
• Lead by example.
• Show people that what they hope for is possible.
• Tap into their dreams.
• Tell stories.
• Challenge them.
“If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of The Little Prince
“You must do the things you think you cannot do.”
Eleanor Roosevelt First Lady
Humanitarian First Ambassador to the UN
Chris Witt of Witt Communications, LLC
[email protected] www.christopherwitt.com
Working with leaders who want to influence and inspire audiences, and with technical experts who want to make themselves understood by the rest of us.
To receive a free newsletter: http://www.wittcom.com/newsletter.htm.
For questions or more information, email Chris at [email protected].
Ideas in this presentation are drawn from the book…
“Few skills are more important to entrepreneurs than the ability to sell ideas... In Real Leaders Don't Do PowerPoint, Christopher Witt offers solid advice, emphasizing the importance of having a compelling message, making the whole event memorable and ensuring that you – the messenger – are credible.” – Fortune Small Business
Top Related