10 simple motivation tips (at zero-cost!)

Money can be over-rated… when it comes to motivating people!

After all, who goes to work energized everyday by the thought of their pay-slip at the end of the month? Who remains excited about their bonus one week after getting it? Really, when it comes to people engagement, money is like sugar: it’s sweet, but the taste quickly disappears. And it’s addictive - as we hint sometimes in Singapore when we joke ‘money not enough’!

Let’s take monetary rewards out of the equation then; what can you as a manager, a parent or a friend do to motivate yourself and people around you?

Here are 10 simple tips I'd recommend, at no cost whatsoever!

Tip #1 - Show you care

Who can ask you for (almost) anything... and you will do it for them? Isn't that someone who has consistently and visibly cared about you? Then how about you care visibly even more about others? They will care even more about you. If you are a boss, keep in mind what the "20th century management guru" Peter Drucker said: "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Tip #2 - Listen, really

Who really listens to you? I mean REALLY listens to you. How do they do that? May I guess? They (choose to) believe you are an important and interesting person, so they give you their full attention, their time… and silence; they don’t interrupt you; they take time to appreciate and think about what you said before they answer; they ask you to elaborate further… Then you feel respected, honoured even. You think at your best, and the conversation energizes you. If that’s right for you, how about you offer (even) more real listening to others?

Tip #3 - Let go and empower

When was the last time you felt completely free to do something you had chosen to do? How motivated were you? How about letting go and setting yourself and others free more often? Offering others more choices, or empowering subordinates in a way that removes their fear of failure?

Tip #4 - Go for your dream

Research has shown that what older people tend to regret the most is not having gone for their dream. What’s yours? What are the dreams of people close to you? How about starting to make them happen?

Tip #5 - Grow

Who was your best boss so far? What was he or she doing to deserve that honour? Isn’t he or she the one who increased your professional or personal ‘value’ the most? How about you do just that for yourself and for others? And regularly check-in with the question “what have I/you learnt this month? How can I/you leverage that learning further?”

Tip #6 - Awaken possibilities

How did you feel the last time someone helped you find a new possibility within you or for you? How about awakening more possibilities for yourself and people around you? Not as a ‘rescuer’ for others (who solves the issue, but builds-up dependency), but instead as a humble thinking-partner…

Tip #7 - Say 'I believe in you'

Have you heard the real story of 5 children who were randomly chosen at a primary school and told “you are lucky to have an exceptional ability for learning, you will do very well at school”?

One year later, those 5 ‘random’ children had all significantly improved their scores… May I assume that when someone tells you “I believe YOU can do it”… you also unleash a lot of energy to do it, honouring the confidence placed in you? How about you do more of that for yourself and for others, going forward?

Tip #8 - Embrace adventure

In “Awaken the Giant inside”, Tony Robbins wrote “we crave variety; there needs to be enough uncertainty to provide spice and adventure in our lives”... How about you ‘spice-up’ your Life and start doing new things, ‘embrace adventure’ and inspire others to do so?

Tip #9 - Belonging

Belonging is a deep human aspiration, as well as ‘feeling good enough’ and ‘feeling loved’. Include others in some of what you do, and strengthen your connection with them, one conversation at a time.

Tip #10 - Enhance pride

When was the last time you felt proud? How powerful was that moment? How about you make this happen for you and others (more) often? As a boss, ensure you don’t miss chances to recognize (or better, celebrate) achievements and make your people proud.

Be the change that you want to see!

Jean-Fran?ois Cousin is a global leadership expert, speaker and executive coach, under the brand ‘Greatness Leadership Coaching’. In his book “Game Changers at the Circus: How Leaders Can Unleash Greatness in Their Organizations”, he shares practical and proven steps for leaders to enhance agile collaboration in a ‘VUCA’ world. He can be contacted at [email protected].