15 Motivational Songs For Overcoming Obstacles

Motivational songs for overcoming obstacles are BIG songs. Packed with motivational messages and power-filled orchestration they are the kind that get you up and going at the gym even though you are tired. They are the ones we hear at the game when there are a few seconds left on the clock and the score is tied. They are the songs used in television and film in musical montages when the lead character finally faces his challenge and proceeds despite the opposition.

Motivational songs for overcoming obstacles are important because they uplift, inspire and, excite. A steady "diet" of them can keep you feeling confident, strong, and ready to take on the world. They are so effective, they've even supported whole movements that brought about great social and political change.

Motivational

Like the US civil rights movement. A whole assortment of leading artists of time wrote and produced some of the most motivational songs for overcoming obstacles ever. Everyone from James Brown to The Jacksons contributed to this rich body of music that serves as the soundtrack for the advancement of colored people everywhere.

15 Motivational Songs For Overcoming Obstacles

1. "We Shall Overcome" sung by Mahalia Jackson is the most popular protest song that became the key anthem for the US civil rights movement.

2. "Wade in the Water" sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers is a song that many internet sources and popular books claim to contain explicit instructions to fugitive slaves on how to avoid capture and the route to take to successfully make their way to freedom.

3. "Pick a Bale of Cotton" by Leadbelly is work song that was sung by workers to coordinate timing to pick a bale (480 lbs.) of cotton.

4. "Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud" by James Brown is notable both as one of Brown's signature songs and as one of the most popular "black power" anthems of the 1960s.

5. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" sung by Kim Weston and written by James Weldon Johnson, was named the Black National Anthem and became the official song of the NAACP.

6. "We're a Winner" by The Impressions was written and produced by Curtis Mayfield and was a #1 song of the black pride movement.

7. "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley is considered Marley's most important piece of work, with lyrics derived from a speech given by the Pan-Africanist leader Marcus Garvey.

8. "Can You Feel It" by The Jacksons was written by Michael and Jackie Jackson on their album Triumph and was an international chart-topper in 1981.

9. "Aint No Stoppin Us Now" by McFadden and Whitehead is a celebratory song to honor black achievements, and became a number #1 hit selling over 2 million copies.

10. "Fight the Power" by The Isley Brothers is a protest funk song from 1975 that inspired Public Enemy to release a hip-hop version of their own in the late 1980's.

11. "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson is one of Jackson's most critically-acclaimed songs that hit number one and was re-released in the UK after his death.

12. "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy serves as the political statement of purpose for the group and is their biggest single.

13. "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West was not only on of his most popular songs, but was well-received by music critics who praised "its compelling sonic atmosphere and boldness in its open embracement of faith".

14. "Hold On" by Wyclef is the Haitian-born musician's plea fans to support his non-profit organization and help the victims of the Haitian earthquake by texting 'YELE' to 501501.

15. "Move On Up" sung by Beninoise singer-songwriter Agelique Kidjo also features Bono and John Legend is a motivational song used to uplift the people of Africa. Although, it was originally written and performed by Curtis Mayfield in 1970, several other well-known artists released subsequent versions that are equally motivating.

So stand up and get ready to get motivated to overcome obstacles. This playlist is empowering no matter what color you are. It will touch you, resonate with you at your core, and make you MOVE! The legacy of this music lives on.

Any obstacles in your way? Just, let the beat and the rhythm set the pace and allow the message in the music help you over and above all obstacles that come your way...

15 Motivational Songs For Overcoming Obstacles

Visit http://motivational-songs.com/15-motivational-songs-for-overcoming-obstacles/ to to preview the list of songs above on Motivational-Songs.com

Motivational Interviewing and Substance Abuse

History

In the past 50 years, many confrontational psychodynamic approaches became popular and almost the expectation of substance abuse and addiction treatment. There was the idea that substance abuse was a symptom of an underlying disorder (Weegmann, 2002). Once the disorder was treated, the secondary substance abuse would clear up on its own. As Weegmann discussed, research has shown that highly confrontational methods often instilled an ever deeper sense of resistance in the client. The percentage of successful outcomes within the field of addiction have been tossed around and range a great deal, however they have always seemed pretty dismal in comparison to the length and cost of many treatment programs. A new approach is necessary and an approach that is more accessible to those in need of it would be highly valuable in the field.

Motivational

Addiction and Substance Abuse

Motivational Interviewing and Substance Abuse

According to Miller (1998), addiction can be described within two conditions: (1) a behavior that persists even though there is apparent risk or harm to oneself or others and (2) to an outside observer the individual demonstrates diminished, but retrievable, capacity for self-regulation of the behavior. Miller also discusses "symptoms" of addiction which include: giving inordinate priority to the addictive behavior; avoidance of situations where the behavior is inaccessible; and giving a high priority to the behavior after a period of abstinence, among others. Miller suggests that the problem of addiction is simply competing motivations. Motivation for the behavior currently outweighs the harm and perceived value of available alternatives to that behavior.

So how does an addicted individual escape addiction? Miller (1998) argues that there can be a sudden shift in how the person perceives the pros and cons of their behavior. This is often seen over time as the suffering directly attached to the addiction increases and the ratio of pros and cons shifts. Through motivational interviewing, Miller suggests that therapists and other helping professionals can lend clients another perspective, a mirror image of themselves, so as to increase the client's conception of the consequences and saliency of their behavior.

Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Within efforts to utilize motivational interviewing within adolescence, motivational interviewing offers several advantages over other treatment options. According to one article (Tevyaw & Monti, 2004), motivational enhancement and other brief interventions have the highest effect sizes among all treatments for alcohol abuse and dependence and evidence similar efficacy rates. Motivational techniques also provide a more flexible continuum of treatment ranging from abstinence to harm reduction within cases where abstinence is not necessary, which is often the case with adolescents with short histories of substance abuse (Tevyaw & Monti, 2004). Adolescents also often end up in a treatment setting due to a decision made by an authority figure such as their parents or the justice system and concerns are often not shared by the adolescent. They are often characterized by resistance to change and a lack of understanding of the consequences of their behavior. Motivational techniques provide clinicians with an attractive method to increase rapport and commitment to change from clients that have been deemed as resistant in the past (Tevyaw & Monti, 2004).

It is often not necessary for adolescents to admit to or acknowledge having substance abuse problems in order for them to benefit from a motivational approach. Motivational techniques also do not rely on diagnostic labels allowing for the client to benefit at any level of readiness to change. It can raise awareness during the pre-contemplation stage, can help in decision-making during contemplation, can enhance a person's resolution to change during the action and maintenance stages, and after a relapse it can provide an opportunity for reassessment (Ford, Oliver & Whitehead, 2006).

Within young adulthood, motivational interviewing provides similar advantages over other treatment options, however the ability to utilize brief interventions becomes incredibly valuable at this stage. Young adults are at a much higher risk of the drastic effects of substance abuse due to their distance from home and authority. As Monti and Tevyaw (2004) point out, young adults in the 18 to 25 age range consistently engage in high rates of risky behavior such as heavy substance abuse and unprotected sex. These individuals are less likely to be confronted by family due to their distance from them or by friends due to the general acceptance of this behavior during this life stage. It is therefore important to utilize brief motivational interventions within areas where young adults present themselves such as the emergency department, college counseling and health centers, and within employee assistance programs. Motivational interviewing provides a simple, trainable technique that can be used in any of these settings in a brief period of time.

Outcomes

Each study agreed that motivational interviewing provided at the very least a comparably effective option for substance abuse treatment. Within one study (Schneider, Case & Kohn, 2000), clients who were placed with counselors practicing motivational interviewing showed higher satisfaction rates with their experience. In another study among heavy drinkers on college campuses, brief interventions of motivational interviewing results in lower self-reported rates of alcohol consumption and lower blood alcohol levels than individuals who simply received feedback (Monti & Tevyaw, 2004). Students mandated into a campus alcohol program were more likely to seek further assistance with their drinking following a brief motivational intervention than students who simply completed the program in one study (Monti & Tevyaw, 2004). In one final study, older adolescents presenting at an emergency department following an alcohol-related event were randomized to one session of motivational interviewing versus typical care. At a 6-month follow-up, those who had received the motivational interview showed a significantly lower rate of drinking and driving, traffic violations, and other alcohol-related problems or injuries (Tevyaw & Monti, 2004).

Conclusion

Motivational interviewing is a simple, highly trainable, and effective technique that approaches addiction in a unique way. It provides a theoretical framework that falls more in line with social work values and ethics than many others. It allows for self-determination, respect, and validation of the client's strengths. An emphasis is on giving the client something new. Especially within substance abuse, the client has heard from multiple authorities and trusted family and friends that their behavior needs to change. The framework also allows for brief interventions that can take place in almost any setting and do not require a professional therapist to initiate. This allows for more manageable, accessible, and cost-effective treatment.

Miller described addiction as when an observer sees the behavior as too high a cost and diminished control within the individual. Motivational interviewing allows for the client to become that observer of their own behavior.

References

Ford, C., Oliver, J., Whitehead, B. (2006). Treating Drug Users: A Collaborative Method. Therapy Today. 17, 2, 17-20

Miller, W. (1998). Toward a Motivational Definition and Understanding of Addiction. Motivational Interviewing Newsletter for Trainers, 5, 3, 2-6

Monti, P., Tevyaw, T.O., Borsari, B. (2004). Drinking Among Young Adults. Alcohol Research and Health, 28, 4, 236-244

Schneider, R. J., Casey, J., Kohn, R. (2000). Motivational versus Confrontational Interviewing: A Comparison of Substance Abuse Assessment Practices at Employee Assistance Programs. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 27, 1, 60-74

Tevyaw, T.O., Monti, P. (2004). Motivational Enhancement and Other Brief Interventions for Adolescent Substance Abuse: Foundations, Applications, and Evaluations. Addiction, 99, 63-75

Weegmann, M. (2002). Motivational Interviewing And Addiction: A Psychodynamic Appreciation. Psychodynamic Practice, 8, 2, 179-195

Motivational Interviewing and Substance Abuse

Odyssey House of Utah, a private non-profit organization, has been providing substance abuse education, prevention, and treatment services for adults, adolescents, and parents with dependent children in the Salt Lake City, Utah area for close to 40 years. Please visit one of our Odyssey House of Utah blogs and then take a look at our new Odyssey House Utah profile on Propeller.

Writing Tattoos: Motivational Sayings and Quotes

It is very popular to have a motivational saying or quote as a writing tattoo. This in itself is therefore not such a bad thing, but why do we have it? Do we need the motivation or are we just trying to follow the current trend.

My view is that we should not put any ink on our body which is not relevant to us and does not speak to us. If it is just to be cool, then it is not. If you do not believe in the saying or are not following the path suggested by the saying then it is irrelevant. Sometimes it is done as an after event to make a statement and to perhaps remind us of certain times in our lives and this can be very motivational.

Motivational

An example of something which seems less than inspiring is perhaps the tattoo which the celebrity singer Pink has, the phrase "what goes around comes around" is tattooed on her wrist and seems more of a petty comment or backlash than motivational. Not something I would do but then each to their own.

Writing Tattoos: Motivational Sayings and Quotes

Megan Fox seems to go down this route also making something private very public with her tattoos, saying "there once was a little girl who never knew love until a boy broke her HEART" and also "We will all laugh at gilded butterflies" this must mean something to Megan but I hate to say it but she is not the only one who has been let down by a boy.

Christina Aquilera has the saying "I am to my beloved what my beloved is to me" tattooed on her lower back and this seems a clear reference to a shared love and something which is very inspiring to two individuals who share a love and a sentiment.

Posh Spice Victoria Beckham also has a similar tattoo, which must be for her husband David, written in Hebrew "I am my beloved's, my beloved is mine".

David Beckham the other half of Posh Spice wears the name and portrait of his Spice Girl wife, Victoria and the names of their sons, Romeo, Brooklyn and Cruz. Now he also has the Latin phrase "Ut Amam Et Foveam" which means "so that I Love and Cherish".

Angelina Jolie, as we all know, has a few tattoos and has shared a lot of her private life with us via these tattoos. An example being a tattoo on her right forearm which means "Strength of Will." This may in itself not say much but when you understand it covers a previous tattoo she got with ex-hubby Billy Bob Thornton then it speaks volumes.

We can all reference our thoughts and life in ink, but my advice is make sure it really means a lot to you and is not just a quirky saying that inspired you over a few beers.

Writing Tattoos: Motivational Sayings and Quotes

Olivia Curtis loves tattoos and has become a big fan of Writing Tattoos with a pet hate for those that get the writing wrong ending up with a nonsense statement instead of a dedication to loved ones or an inspirational quote.

Join Olivia on her Blog Site where she provides support advice and guidance to make sure you get the correct writing tattoo.

http://www.writingtattoos.net

My Most Motivational Mottos to Live By

Life is very interesting to me. It is my favorite thing in the world to study. As a student of life, many great thoughts have come to me about how I should be spending my days on Earth. I call these thoughts my mottos to live by.

This article is a collection of my most motivational mottos to live by. As you read these mottos, it is important that you think of your own life. Do not simply look at the words and think of how they make sense. Rather, make sense of the words to your own situation.

Motivational

You can use my mottos to live by, but you must make your own for you to live by. Become a student of your own life. Think of the best ways you can bring yourself true happiness. Think of ways that you can make your own life more meaningful.

My Most Motivational Mottos to Live By

"You can't reinvent the wheel, but you can control where it leads the vehicle."

There are many resources around you just waiting to be utilized for something special. There is sense in trying to improve something that doesn't need to be improved. Use what you have to get what you want. Only you know where you want to end up in life. Similarly, you alone have the power to take you there.

"Do not take the road everyone else takes, for it will only get you stuck in traffic."

As cliche as it may sound, just be yourself. Live the life you want to live because you are the only person that can live it. Listen to the advice of others, but ultimately let your heart be the deciding factor. If everyone in this world were the same, it would be a very boring place.

You own your life. You control the decisions you make. You alone must live with the consequences of these decisions, so do what will make you happy. There is a "normal" path and then there is your path. Take the road that leads to your dreams. Once the others get stuck in life's traffic jam, they will wish they had done the same.

"Everyone has dreams. Only those who appreciate the process of the journey can experience them while awake."

We all have dreams and goals. We all want some things in life more than others. Most of all, we want to be happy. In order to be happy, we must do some difficult things. On the path to our dreams, there are going to be obstacles.

These obstacles often prevent people from true happiness. Do not let this happen to you. By appreciating the process of the journey, you will learn to understand that those very obstacles are what make the journey worthwhile. Those obstacles enable you to truly appreciate what you are doing. And when you get to your goals, the enable you to realize all you have accomplished. Appreciate the obstacles for they are the stepping stones of life.

"Be bold. It is the only way to stand out from the other characters."

Do not consider this motto if you are merely interested in blending in with the rest of society. Otherwise, really think about your life. Are you doing anything to stand out from the crowd?

Being bold is a way of life. It is an exciting way of life. Boldness brings attention. Boldness gets others interested. It is one of several paths to success, but it is the only one I particularly enjoy. Create a meaningful life and reach as many people with it as possible. Life is too short and too valuable to merely blend it. Stand up and stand out. Live your life! And that is possibly the best of all the mottos to live by!

My Most Motivational Mottos to Live By

Matt Maresca is an author and lover of life. His passion is in self growth. His goal is to get the most out of life and help anyone he can reach do the same. For this reason he created a website on life motivation. There you can find a blog centering around taking your life to new, powerful heights. The address is http://www.mylifemotivation.com so check it out for more great stuff from Matt.

Best Way to Start Off Your Day - Motivational Life Quotes

Every day could be great day if we start it off with positive mindset. In morning our mind is fresh and calm. Our whole day is affected by the way we start it off in the morning. It flows according to the thoughts that come into our mind when we wake up in morning.

If we start our day on a positive note, it would most likely turn out to be good and happy. On the other hand, if we start if off with negative thoughts, our whole day would turns into disaster.

Motivational

So how do we start off our day with positive frame of mindset? The answer is motivational life quotes. They are true words of wisdom that helps you set your attitude positive that will last entire day. Reading motivational quotes in the morning before starting your day activities will pep up your mood, lighten your spirit up, increases your self-confident and boost your motivation to succeed.

Best Way to Start Off Your Day - Motivational Life Quotes

Another great benefit of starting off your day with motivational Life Quotes is that they significantly increase your productivity. They instantly turn your negative thoughts into positive beliefs and make you focus on things that matters and motivate you to work hard. Thus your productivity increase and as a result, your employer get impressed with you and you have better chances of getting promotion in your job.

Starting off your day on a higher note by using inspiring quotes also helps you in reducing the stress level. Most of us have tone of stress. Although some amount of stress is beneficial for us since it helps in keeping your life exciting and interesting but too much of it leads to depression and other health diseases. Reading Motivational Life Quotes in the morning is a gateway from all that crap we hear everyday.

Best Way to Start Off Your Day - Motivational Life Quotes

Read our collection of Inspiring Quotes About life and Sayings.

How to Land Motivational Speaker Jobs

Have you ever wondered how to land motivational speaker jobs?

The business of motivational speaking is highly competitive. In the beginning it's normal for you to keep your day job while you develop your speaking skills. Work on your writing and speech skills and really learn about your niche in your spare time.

Motivational

Motivational speaking can be a hit or miss for many people and some people learn the hard way by making rookie mistakes as they start their career. The job involves a lot of skills and you need to practice and hone them. Speakers know they should sharpen their speaking skills but some forget the marketing aspect of the job.

How to Land Motivational Speaker Jobs

Here are some tips to get you on your way to a lucrative speaking career. Just follow these tips and you can land speaking jobs that make you tons of money.

Determine what you can share and talk about

Motivational speakers share experiences which audiences can relate to; stories that can teach principles and give inspiration. You can share personal experiences and the success stories of other people. Talk about something you are passionate about.

In addition to talking about their passion, successful motivational speakers also find a way to tie their passion to the needs of a profitable marketplace. It's a combination of passion and problem-solving that makes a speaking career profitable.

Know where to speak

Speakers should determine the groups and venues that he or she can speak to. The list is endless and here are some examples: Adult teaching classes, Conferences, Colleges, cruise Ships, non-profit organizations, seminars, businesses, youth groups, and many more.

Pick a niche:

Profitability starts at choosing your niche. A niche is a targeted audience from a larger group, having a target audience will help you focus both in speech writing and marketing yourself.

Have a great speech topic and package it nicely.

After picking a niche, you should draft speeches from a list of topics you think are most important to your niche. Let your speeches address the major problems of your chosen niche. At this point, research into your niche and further examination of your target audience is essential. Great speeches start in writing drafts and outlines.

Collect stories along with your personal experiences and use them as supporting items for your key points. You can get help from good writers if you want to. Package your speeches and topics for effective marketing.

Have a great marketing plan.

Armed with great speeches and topics, it is now time to market and convince your audience to buy it. There are a lot of marketing methods and techniques to implement. But in a nutshell, you should build an image of expertise and professionalism. Use marketing materials and networking to accomplish this.

From time to time, speak for free

Speak for free to get the word out. You are giving the public a taste of your services and gaining experience and stage time as well. Speak for non-profit associations and blow the audience away with a stunning performance. You can get referrals and spin-off bookings as a result.

Be a professional

Take your speaking career seriously. Be professional, have a physical office and business number. Buyers will hire speakers that exude professionalism.

How to Land Motivational Speaker Jobs

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Use Motivational Speeches to Motivate Your Team

If you want to motivate your team, whether it's a sports team or a sales team, a great way to do that is by using motivational speeches. Motivating groups of people is one of the challenges people in leadership positions face every day. This article will be about how you can use the power of words to inspire your team to increase their confidence and their motivation. After reading this article, you will hopefully understand just how powerful this can be in terms of getting the results you want out of your team.

Many people feel that motivational speeches are sort of corny and cheesy. Because of this, many sale managers will completely disregard giving one or showing a video of one. This is a huge mistake. If you want to see just how powerful these speeches can be, hang out in the locker room of the losing team during half-time and you will see a group of people go from feeling self-defeated to feeling nearly unstoppable. When you encourage people during times of struggle and challenge, what you are essentially doing is helping them increase their confidence and belief in themselves. No matter what group of people you are leading, they will need a source of motivation every now and then.

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One of the greatest things that you can do for your team members is to show them the vision. Every team has a goal that they want to achieve. Whether it's to win the championships or to be the number one sales office in the company, sometimes it's hard for the individual members to focus on things like that. By showing them the vision, what I mean is painting a picture for them. For example, in sales, the toughest thing to have to overcome is the constant rejections. It's easy for someone to start doubting themselves and feeling discouraged. Although some managers will just see them as weak and not right for the job and think that they should be self motivated, that's just an excuse for not doing their job.

Use Motivational Speeches to Motivate Your Team

As a manager of a sales team, your responsibility is to increase sales. If motivating your team will do that, then it's your duty to do so. You can easily do this by giving them a talk about how you got to where you are today. By doing this, you are painting a picture of where they can one day be. After that, you want to help your team members individually by talking about their personal goals and how it can become a reality if they make the sales.

Giving a motivational speech might not be the easiest thing in the world. That is why there are companies out there that will provide DVD's of speeches that can help with this. You can also hire motivational speakers as well. The bottom line is that motivational speeches work if done right. Use it to increase your team's confidence and their results.

Use Motivational Speeches to Motivate Your Team

Kelly T. contributes to a motivational website that provides tools and resources such as motivational speeches, quotes, songs, and posters. Motivation can come from anywhere, even from a motivational video.

Inspirational Poems - Motivational Life Encouragement

Inspirational poems remind us of our need to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk." Words can be inspirational and motivational or be misused and become detrimental to our lives. This poem shows how misuse can erode our society.

Commitment

Motivational

Keep your word
No matter what
The cost to you may be.

Inspirational Poems - Motivational Life Encouragement

For those nearby
Believe not what
They hear but what they see.

The character pictured in this poem is difficult to attain. I guess it is one of the virtues that is admired in direct proportion to the amount of selflessness expressed by not going back on your word.

Frequently, people say they will be at a certain place at a certain time but fail to show. Or someone borrows an item and fails to return it. Or a parent promises to take his child somewhere and doesn't follow through leaving the child disillusioned.

Society today seems to accept that people cannot be counted upon.

But for those who reject this lack of self accountability and seek for a better life and testimony to those around them, planning ahead and counting the cost is their life blood. It's the only way to live - even when their best plans fail.

It is these people who are admired, blessed, and accomplish the most in life.

This next poem shows us how words can be instrumental as we reprioritize our actions.

Take Care

How did you say
Goodbye this morn?
What were the things you said?

What if they were
Your final words
Until the life ahead?

Once in awhile it is good to stop and take stock of our blessings. Two of these blessings are our children and our parents.

Now, parents is a sore subject with high school students, sometimes. Wrapped up in their social frenzy of getting their friend's approval, many students give in and talk badly about their parents.

When I sense this in a class, I look for an opportunity to inject a different perspective free of peer pressure bias. I ask them, "What if you got a call on the intercom to come to the office, and when you got there you found a close relative awaiting you with the news that your folks had just been killed in a car wreck? Would you wish you had left the house differently this morning? Would you wish you could change the last things you said as you left?"

Can you imagine the regrets they would have?

Each of us could benefit by carefully and lovingly watching our departures from loved ones in the morning and each time we say goodbye.

Poems like this last one can offer great meaning. To those of us who have had children and have seen them grow up, our die is cast. But for those who are still on that journey, there is time to heed this warning about the use of our words and time.

Unfamiliar Gray

Too busy we
To nurture them
To read, to laugh, to pray.

To busy they
To visit us,
The unfamiliar gray.

It's a constant battle for a parent to find time to spend with his children. Mom and dad each have responsibilities for providing for their children that take a lot of time and energy. There really isn't much of either left over at the end of the day.

But why do we parents have children in the first place if we are not going to designate enough time for their growth and nurture? Without enough time spent with parents, children will turn out poorly and surely won't provide their parents with late life fellowship and care.

The key is two-fold; desire that your kids turn out right and plan ahead to make time to share both words and activities with them.

Remember always to keep your word when you promise something, choose carefully your words when leaving the house in the morning, and make time to use your words for the nurture and admonition of your children.

Inspirational Poems - Motivational Life Encouragement

Robert Ogden is a Christian school teacher living in Central Florida. More of his poems can be found at [http://www.poemplaques.com]

Motivational Tools to Engage Every Employee on Your Team

Skilled managers and team leaders know that when motivating employees one size does not fit all. Every person on your team is moved by some combination of internal and external motivators. What works for one employee might actually have the opposite effect for another employee. Your motivational tool kit needs to be revisited and refreshed regularly if you want to keep every individual engaged.

External Motivators

Motivational

Think of extrinsic or external motivators as those incentives outside of the employee. In organizations, these motivators could include compensation and benefits, reward and incentive programs, and company or department goals. If an individual has family responsibilities, then, perhaps their economic needs motivate them. Physical security needs are also considered to be external motivators. How much control do you, as a team leader, have over these external factors? If you're thinking "very little" then you are right on target.

Motivational Tools to Engage Every Employee on Your Team

Internal Motivators

On the other hand, intrinsic or internal motivators include less tangible factors as personality and work ethic. Attitudes about authority, personal goals, and even the level of self-esteem that an employee exhibits are all an "inside job". Each employee's psychological needs drive their behaviors and choices. If you're thinking "I don't have much control over those internal factors either" then you may be missing an opportunity to motivate your team. In truth, you are able to influence individual performance by attending to each person's intrinsic motivators. You help to create the conditions through which each team member satisfies their internal drives.

Typical Motivators

In the NetSpeed Leadership training session, Coaching Smart People, we conduct an exercise in which participants identify their main motivators. Here is the list of motivators from which participants select their biggest driver (you can have your team do this exercise as well):

Now, imagine for a moment that an individual on your team selects the motivator get appreciated. If you were to ask "How do you know when you're appreciated," you might hear him say, "I like working in an environment where people sincerely thank each other. I don't have to be told every day that I'm appreciated but I do like to feel like what I'm doing contributes to the success of the team. If I work hard on a project, I want my boss to acknowledge that hard work, even if she needs to delay the project or have me change some of the results. I would rather get that feedback one-to-one than in a big group. I feel better having a personal conversation with my team leader about my value to the team. If she does it in front of the big group, I actually get pretty embarrassed and it's not a pleasant experience."

If one of your team members selects the motivator get connected to others, you might ask her, "What does it mean to be connected to others?" She might hear her say, "To me, it's the personal relationships that make work satisfying. I always say 'the more the merrier' when there's a chance to get something done--let's just roll up our sleeves and get it done together. I love to work with other people on important goals. I love the give-and-take and the sense that we're all in this together. I would hate sitting at my desk alone all day without that human interaction. It just fires me up and makes me want to run into work everyday."

Perhaps one of your team members selects the motivator get recognized and rewarded. You might ask, "How do you like to be recognized or rewarded?" and he might respond, "I'm constantly tracking how I'm doing against my own goals and, frankly, against others. I guess you could say that I'm a little bit competitive. But, hey, life and work are a game to me. If you throw me into a contest to see who can make the most sales calls in 24 hours, I'm hooked. When I make the highest number of calls, I want my boss to put my name out there as the guy who topped the list. I like that kind of public recognition. If you just take me into your office and say, 'good job' I feel miffed. If I did such a great job, why aren't you telling everybody?"

To give one last example, imagine that someone on your team selects get educated. You might ask her, "What does it mean to you to get educated?" And she might answer, "I guess you could say that I'm a life-long learner. I have a couple of college degrees and I hope to get started on my Ph.D in a few years. I read constantly. If you want to make me feel good, send me to a really good training class, or give me your favorite business book. In fact I can't wait to go home and dig in to the latest research on the process improvement tools we've started to use here. I guess I like to be the expert on the team."

These are just four examples of the way individuals might describe their main motivators. And their descriptions should give you some ideas about how to motivate them.

Get Appreciated

Ensure that you end every one-to-one meeting with a positive affirmation of his worth to you and the team. Send a simple email or write a thank-you note. Consider posting a stick note on his computer that he sees when he arrives at his desk first thing in the morning. Be specific, sincere, and generous in your praise. You might want to take him out for coffee or lunch and have a private conversation about how things are going and what you can do to support him on his current projects.

Get Connected to Others

It's all about the relationships. First, pay attention to your relationship to her. Clean up any miscommunication or confusion that may be preventing you from spending time with her. Tell her how much you value the fact that she is a team player. Keep her in the loop about goals, objectives, obstacles, and challenges. When ever you give her a task, ask her who she'd like to work with to get it done. Invite her to drop in to talk through problems or issues when needed. Introduce her to possible mentors and other champions. Praise her for the quality of her relationships with customers, co-workers, and colleagues.

Get Recognized and Rewarded

In many ways, he's the easiest kind of person to recognize. Do it publicly and do it often. He probably values certificates, plaques, and "employee of the month" awards (as long as they're seen as legitimate accomplishments). If his job includes regular reports on deliverables, make sure those reports are reviewed at team meetings. If you send out an email praising him, make sure that your boss is copied on the email. Feature him and his results in the company newsletter.

Get Educated

The best motivational tool for her is the opportunity to gain more knowledge and share it with others. Often seen as "the smartest person in the room", she shines when asked to update the team on the latest information. Freely share your favorite books. Forward EzineArticles. Ask her opinion as you are developing project plans. Praise her depth of knowledge in the topics that she is interested in. Give her the opportunity to do background research. And, if she can write well, ask her to write up her findings.

No matter what motivators the individuals on your team may choose, there is an opportunity for rich conversations that will tell you just what you need to know about how to engage them. So here's your action plan:

1) Schedule a team meeting.

2) Ask team members to select one or two motivators.

3) Have them discuss why this motivator is so important to them.

4) Then schedule one-to-one conversations with each individual to dig deeper.

5) Identify individual strategies for motivating each person and try them out.

6) Watch the results and make adjustments as you learn.

Creating a motivational work environment is one of the most challenging and most satisfying steps a managers can take. The payoff for you is higher productivity, greater job satisfaction, and the ability to hang on to your best team members.

Motivational Tools to Engage Every Employee on Your Team

Cynthia Clay is the President/CEO of NetSpeed Leadership (http://netspeedleadership.com). NetSpeed Leadership meets the learning needs of managers, supervisors, and individual contributors in small to mid-sized organizations. Our programs blend interactive instruction techniques with online reinforcement tools to extend learning beyond the classroom. With this holistic approach, our clients quickly launch programs, train participants, reinforce skills, and measure the impact. To learn more about motivating others, look at Coaching Smart People, one of 23 modules in the Netspeed Leadership training system.

Motivational Quotes

More and more people are becoming motivated through other means. One of the most common ways a person can find motivation is through quotes from famous people from all walks of life. From people like Nelson Mandela to Muhammad Ali more and more people are relating themselves to senior figures who play a big part in influencing them and help motivate them. This article explores the different types of motivational quotes and their likely influence on an individual.

One of the most popular figures in giving lots of motivational quotes is none other than Martin Luther King JR. The following quote "If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live", is a prime example of the powerful influence of the quote. This quote is referring to the fact that society as a whole need to take advantage of their life and do something and make a name for themselves. Quotes like these can have a powerful effect on a person in helping them motivate them.

Motivational

Another inspirational figure whose quotes are quite popular is the former Heavyweight Boxing champion Muhammed Ali whose quotes have inspired many people. One of the most popular quotes is "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" which is a very motivational quote and has inspired many people.

Motivational Quotes

Motivational speeches have helped many people to be successful in their fields. More and more people are using speeches from high profile leading individuals to motivate themselves. For example, leading figures such as Mother Theresa and Nelson Mandela have inspired people in many ways and have helped expert a powerful influence on today's society. Furthermore, these leading figures have helped motivate thousands of people on daily basis and have continued to inspire many young people. Therefore, motivational quotes will always play a key part in helping motivate people.

Motivational Quotes

Imran Naseem

For more information on Motivational Quotes go to [http://www.ImranNaseem.com]