How Do I Motivate Myself - Learning How to Start Living Again

'How do I motivate myself' is a question a lot of depressed people ask themselves. They could be suffering from various types of depression which can range from mild to severe or simply going through SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

When a person asks, how do I motivate myself, you can suggest various strategies. One great way is to get them to reflect on their successes, no matter how small, at the end of the day before going to bed.

Motivate

When I was depressed and anxious, I often asked the question, how do I motivate myself and found that a simple technique like sending myself an email was actually a rather good idea. In that email, I would find a list of things to do that day.

How Do I Motivate Myself - Learning How to Start Living Again

Let us imagine you are having trouble motivating yourself to go to the gym. We all know that you a always feel great afterwards because the happy endorphins or the good mood hormones get a chance to start working, even after a fairly easy workout. Did you know that effects of these can last up to twelve hours? Show me a person who is depressed after a good workout!

The best way then is to put post its around the house with 'Go To The GYM' written on them. Then find a buddy to exercise with and he or she can be a great motivator. Start off with small goals. After each step, you can congratulate yourself. This is really the only way to do it, because if you do not have realistic goals, you will just give up at the first sign of discomfort or obstacle.

If you are feeling down and find yourself asking that question, how do I motivate myself, you could try taking a little herbal medicine to lift your mood. That will save you from having to go down the road of antidepressants. These come with rather a lot of heavy baggage

If you are having trouble motivating yourself too often, check out my website where I have set out a few realistic goals and advice and also explain what it is like to take herbal remedies for mild depression. These herbs,such as St. John's Wort and the Passion Flower are considered the safest of all and they have very few or even no side effects at all.

If you follow that advice, you can really start living again and you will never be a slave to depression and anxiety.

How Do I Motivate Myself - Learning How to Start Living Again

Depression CAN be treated successfully. Discover more about how to deal with depression when you are having trouble motivating yourself. Robert Locke has written extensively on Mental Health for many years.

Top 10 Ways to Motivate Employees to Increase Productivity

Since employee motivation is extremely essential for the growth of an organization, managers and supervisors need to know how to motivate their employees. This article explains the basic steps a manager or a supervisor can take to keep his employees motivated for a long time.

1) Set up the right environment

Motivate

Employees need to be motivated by themselves. The duty of a manager or a supervisor is to set up the right environment where employees can motivate and empower themselves.

Top 10 Ways to Motivate Employees to Increase Productivity

2) Money isn't always a good motivator.

A well paid job can often help people from becoming less motivated, but it usually isn't helpful in making them more motivated. The truth is that different people are motivated by different things. While money is important for some people, some others cherish more time with family or greater recognition within the organization. A manager or a supervisor trying to motivate his employees should try to understand what motivates each one of them. You can usually find what motivates your employees by asking them, listening to them and observing them.

3) Don't frighten your employees

It may help if the boss yells a lot. But this usually works for only a short time. Fear alone can't keep employees motivated for a very long time. So stay away from the practice of frightening your employees.

4) Motivate yourself

A manager trying to motivate his employees should be motivated himself. If he is enthusiastic about his job, it will be easy for him to make others enthusiastic too. So before you start motivating others ask yourself whether you find your job motivating enough. What can you do to better motivate yourself? If you know what motivates you, it will be easier for you to understand what motivates others.

5) Align the goals of the organization with the goals of the employees

Always work with the objective of aligning the goals of the organization with the goals of the employees. Just having a few motivated employees won't help unless they all work towards realizing the goals of the organization.

6) Use motivational systems

To motivate employees you can use motivational systems. For instance, organizations can establish compensation systems and employee performance systems. It is also possible to make some changes in organizational policies and procedures to support employee motivation.

7) Practice what you read

Leadership skills aren't necessarily cultivated by just reading management publications. You need to practice what you read.

8) Show genuine care and concern

Show genuine care and concern for your employees. Get to know them on a personal level - their families, their favorite foods, names of their kids etc. This has to be done with sincere interest, otherwise your will sound manipulative.

9) Learn to delegate

Give due importance to teamwork. Don't do everything yourself. Good leadership involves delegating responsibility and authority to employees. Let them decide how they want to carry out the tasks. When you delegate, your employees will get the impression that you want them to take stronger roles in their jobs.

10) Reward your employees

Everybody seeks recognition and appreciation - your employees aren't any different. So don't hesitate to appreciate them when you see them doing well in their jobs. This is a critical lesson for manager and supervisors. Clearly convey how an employee's performance contributes to organizational results. By showing your appreciation, you will be able to motivate them to do better.

Top 10 Ways to Motivate Employees to Increase Productivity

Read more of my Self Improvement Articles [http://www.212articles.com/categories/Self-Improvement-Articles/] and Motivations Articles [http://www.212articles.com/categories/Self-Improvement-Articles/Motivations-Articles/]

Tori Spelling Weight Loss - How Tori Lost 40 Pounds in 2 Months

Tori Spelling's weight loss has actually brought her into the spotlight as she has shed more pounds than normal. She now sports a bony profile and reveals stress as the main factor behind this. Her health got affected because of the stressful relationship with her estranged mother and also because of the liquid diet.

It has been witnessed that many people are resorting to liquid diets in order to shed extra pounds at a very steady pace. The main motive now is to gain svelte profile. Thus, unhealthy measures are also tested these days so that one can gain the envy of others just like Tori Spelling. Her weight loss has got her back into spotlight. In fact she lost around 40 pounds within 2 months by sticking to the liquid diets.

Motive

How Tori lost 40 pounds in 2 months?

Tori Spelling Weight Loss - How Tori Lost 40 Pounds in 2 Months

Tori actually consumed liquid diets for up to 10 days in order to lose extra pounds at a very steady pace. Such liquid diets can be consumed for up to 40 days as per your patience and perseverance. While one is following this program he or she is not allowed to take any type of food. Since they are very low calorie diet it is always advisable that one should try to take vegetables and fruits along with it.

Side Effects of Liquid Diet

* You might suffer from fatigue and dizziness
* Hair loss can be the direct side effect of this program
* Such a program might lead to heart damage and electrolyte imbalance
* You might also suffer from muscle pain and cold intolerance

It is however very well understood that liquid diets might lead to weight loss but what after that? The moment you return to your normal eating habits you once again start gaining weight. Thus, it is always advisable that one should opt for the natural methods. For instance, the acai berry diet can be consumed without any second thought. Check it out:

Acai Berry Diet: This diet even got publicity in the most touted Oprah Winfrey Talk Show. This diet is very rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fibers which can easily enhance the metabolism rate of your body. This factor would further help you to shed extra pounds at an accelerated pace.

Tori Spelling Weight Loss - How Tori Lost 40 Pounds in 2 Months

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How To Motivate Myself: Create A Successful Day, Everyday

Do you ever lie in bed and contemplate your upcoming workday? You think, "I'm going to call that new customer after I have my first cup of coffee." Then you decide the call can wait, and you hit the snooze button a few more times.

We all want to be more productive and achieve success. But at times, we find it difficult to motivate ourselves to take action--especially first thing in the morning.Some people view motivation as something of a conundrum--they don't understand how people can always be energized. Getting started has less to do with whether you have the energy and more to do with your desire and willingness to accomplish any given task. As an entrepreneur, you are passionate about your business. Once you dig in, start a project and see the results of your labor, you become even more galvanized. Stop delaying your success, and begin your day with enthusiasm by taking action.

Motivate

1. START YOUR DAY THE NIGHT BEFORE. At the close of your business day, congratulate yourself on what you have accomplished. Do not judge the size of your accomplishments; appreciate that you have moved your business forward. Feeling good about what you completed during your workday sets a positive foundation for your next day. Say to yourself, "I love my business and will create even greater success tomorrow."

How To Motivate Myself: Create A Successful Day, Everyday

2. CREATE AN OUTCOME-ORIENTED TASK LIST FOR THE NEXT DAY. Goals provide focus for your workday and clarify what you are going to achieve. State the payoff associated with completing each task--recognizing the outcome of your hard work increases your motivation. After defining your goals, choose which task to work on first. E-mail your list to yourself, or put it on your desk. Then relax because you have now created a great head start on your next business day.

3. TAKE TIME TO INVEST IN YOURSELF before the start of your business day. As an entrepreneur, you are your business's greatest asset. You must take care of yourself. Choose a morning activity you enjoy so you can appreciate the beginning of each day. Whether it's a morning walk around your neighborhood, a quick breathing exercise or an intense physical workout, decide on something that helps you transition into your workday. Change your morning activity on a weekly basis to avoid getting bored with the same routine.

4. VISUALIZE YOUR ACHIEVEMENT. Review your action list and concentrate on the outcomes you stated. Imagine the success you will achieve with each completed task. For example, envision your customers becoming happier and/or healthier after using your product or service. It may even spark some marketing ideas. Setting your brain on positive mode allows you to stay enthusiastic throughout the day.No single day makes or breaks your business. Plateaus are a natural part of life and of growing a business. If a bad day occurs, don't despair. Become energized by your freedom to be your own boss and your ability to make changes. Your goal is to continually learn and realize that having your own business is more play than work.

How To Motivate Myself: Create A Successful Day, Everyday

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Motivational Quotes For Athletes - 5 Super Motivational Quotes to Inspire Any Athlete

If you're looking for motivational quotes for athletes, you're reading the right article. Of all the people in the world, athletes are the ones who seem to understand the concept of motivation more than anyone else. After all, they wake up each morning trying to beat their own records.

Sometimes, however, their coach's so-called motivational speech loses its effectiveness. It's a good thing that there are motivational quotes for athletes who are in need of encouragement.

Motivational

Even if you're just starting out or you've already made a name for yourself, you will be inspired by these motivational quotes for athletes. These words of wisdom will help you improve not only your skill, but your overall personality as well.

Motivational Quotes For Athletes - 5 Super Motivational Quotes to Inspire Any Athlete

" It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog." - Magic Johnson, NBA star

There comes a time in every athlete's life when he or she comes across an opponent who takes him or her by surprise. If you're smaller than the usual build for athletes in your arena, you have to remember that how much you weigh - or how tall you are - is not always directly proportional to the amount of skill you have. If you're a big person, use your size to your advantage. However, you still have to watch out for the small guy who just might run circles around you.

"Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent." - Marilyn vos Savant, Columnist

Never giving up is one of the foremost motivational quotes for athletes. Even if your team got squashed by your rival school, that doesn't spell the end of everything. You'll just have to learn from your mistakes, move on, and train even harder for the next event. Even old timers are making a comeback to follow their dreams.

"To give any less than your best is to sacrifice a gift." - Steve Prefontaine, runner

Don't be so modest about your talents. While nobody likes an arrogant athlete, you'll never be able to come into your own unless you acknowledge your skill. So if you have really fast legs, give them the training they deserve. Don't slack off or skip practice. Help yourself become the best athlete you can be and take advantage of your natural abilities.

" The harder you work, the luckier you get." - Gary Player, golfer

This is one of the most overlooked motivational quotes for athletes. There's beginner's luck - and even dumb luck - in this world. But what you really want to have is true luck. True luck is something you create for yourself. As an athlete, you have the chance to increase your luck by training yourself to your full potential. It's you increasing the odds of winning in your favor.

"You can't make a great play unless you do it first in practice." - Chuck Noll

As an athlete, practice could get a little boring. But if you are really serious about improving your skill, then even practice should be taken seriously. How else would you know your strengths and weaknesses? You can't always expect to perform your best spontaneously during a game without proper practice.

It doesn't matter whether you play by yourself or you play with a team, motivational quotes for athletes will still help you get by.

Motivational Quotes For Athletes - 5 Super Motivational Quotes to Inspire Any Athlete

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How to Become a Motivational Speaker

Quite simply, the only way to become a motivational speaker is to train with someone. To begin with you have to decide what market you want to target. You must choose from a field that includes but is not limited to finance, real estate, investing, religion, teen speakers, sales techniques and many more subjects of interest to companies and groups of people around the globe.

Pick your area of expertise or at least the subject you would like to speak to others about. Then seek out and pursue the best motivational speakers in that arena. Go and hear what they have to say and how they go about getting their message across. Are they keynote speakers or just the warm up guys beforehand? You won't start out as a keynote speaker until you have some sort of following, some type of record behind you. But if you are gifted and you study and work heard, learn the basics, you have a chance to go to the top as quickly as anybody else does.

Motivational

Leading motivational speakers often offer classes as well as books and other teaching aides to create new motivational speakers. This may sound strange. Why would a person at the top of his profession offer instruction on how to be a competitor? For the simple reason that the more people who are out there in the world, speaking about his teaching methods and using his motivational speaker training techniques, the more you work the more in demand he will become as a keynote speaker. You have to start somewhere and taking your training as a student of the guys at the top is the quickest way to get yourself hired to speak at someone's convention.

How to Become a Motivational Speaker

When a simple seminar or evening of lectures is not enough to achieve desired results, some companies hire extreme motivational speakers to come in and deliver a heavier blow. These people concentrate on one thing and one thing only - making businesses more profitable from the minute the speaker is done speaking. Like all motivational speakers, the extreme speakers also offer extreme motivational speaker training designed to make you one of the foot soldiers who can go out and espouse his methods of generating more sales, or collecting those receivables, or capturing a bigger market share or whatever his particular slant is, to a number of businesses. The market is almost limitless for extreme motivational speakers, the more the merrier, and a good student always help to make a teacher look even better.

How to Become a Motivational Speaker

Motivational Speakers Info provides detailed information about youth, professional, and Christian motivational speakers, as well as advice on how to become a motivational speaker. Motivational Speakers Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.

Concept of Physical Fitness

Almost everywhere you go today, you are approached with the concept of physical fitness. Unfortunately, a large percentage of Americans are considered obese and it has become quite a concern. Due to this epidemic, we now see increased marketing of diets, being physical fit, in addition to, the many health products now being offered. TV, magazines, and radio play a major role in the distribution of why the concept of physical fitness is so important.

With all this commotion about fitness, have you joined the team and started your path to total fitness? If not here is a brief description of the standards of physical fitness and what you may do about your current fitness level.

Motive

You may want to work out for looking good or for health. Regardless of your motive, most experts agree there are five basic components of fitness.

Concept of Physical Fitness

They are:

1) Aerobic Endurance- Your level of aerobic endurance measures your ability to do moderately strenuous activity over a period of time. It's a measurement of how efficiently your heart and lungs work together to supply oxygen to your body during exertion and exercise. This fitness component is also called aerobic fitness.

2) Muscular Endurance- Muscular Endurance measures your fitness level by your ability to hold a particular position for a sustained period of time or repeat a movement many times. One example might be to lift a five-pound weight 20 consecutive times.

3) Muscular Strength- The ability to exert maximum force. It is possible to have greater muscular strength in one area, than another. For example, you may have great strength in your arms, while lacking strength in your legs. One example might be lifting the heaviest weight you can possibly lift.

4) Flexibility- Flexibility fitness measures the ability to move a joint through its full range of motion or the elasticity of the muscle. This is how limber you are.

5) Body Composition- This fitness area measures the proportion of fat in your body as compared to your bone and muscle. It does not refer to your weight in pounds or your shape.

If you are weak in any area or need to begin a general overall fitness plan, there are basically three areas of exercise you should concentrate upon to make improvements. They are stretching, aerobic activity, and strength training. Each of these areas is very important to your overall fitness level.

Eating a healthy diet will also contribute greatly to your overall fitness level. If you are going to take the time to work out, you need to refuel your body with healthy foods.

Remember, it is never too late to improve your fitness level. Regardless of your physical fitness level, your age, or the length of time it has been since you last exercised regularly, it's never too late to start and maintain a good fitness routine. Always start simple and work your way up and don't forget it takes at least 21 days to create a habit.

Your body is designed to move. It is just that simple; you only get one body. If you don't use it, you lose it. That's why the concept of physical fitness is so important.

Concept of Physical Fitness

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What Does It Mean When a Guy Wants You to Trust Him? Understand the Real Motive Behind This

Do you get confused every time your guy asks you to trust him? What is it with trust anyway? Well, trust is vital in relationships. It makes the relationship more secure. So, if you are wondering what does it mean when a guy wants you to trust him, the following will enlighten you on what he's really up to:

Meaning # 1: He wants you to feel confident
Trusting someone is equivalent to being confident of yourself. This is why, when your guy wants you to trust him, it means that he wants you to be confident not only of yourself but have confidence on him as well. He wants you to know that there is nothing he will do to break that trust.

Motive

Meaning # 2: He wants to have a long-lasting relationship
No relationship can last for a long time without trust. The fact that a guy wants you to trust him means that he wants your relationship to be long-term. Moreover, you must remember that no relationship will ever survive without trust. So, you should instead be glad that your guy wants you to trust him because chances are, he's preparing to spend the rest of his life with you.

What Does It Mean When a Guy Wants You to Trust Him? Understand the Real Motive Behind This

Meaning # 3: He wants to start a relationship with you
If the guy who asks you to trust him isn't your boyfriend, chances are, he wants to start a relationship with you. Trust is the foundation of a relationship, and no relationship can ever start and blossom without the trust factor.

Meaning # 4: He does not want your relationship to break apart
Stories of failing relationships due to lack of trust can always be heard. Your guy doesn't want the same thing to happen between the two of you. Since he asked that you trust him, all he wants is for you to keep your faith in him and not initiate a break up.

Meaning # 5: He wants your relationship to be happy
Imagine being in a relationship where your guy doesn't trust you. Seems horrible, right? If this is the case, then, you must realize that a happy relationship consists of two individuals who trust each other. No one wants a relationship that is full of drama.

Meaning # 6: He wants an open communication with you
You wouldn't tell your guy intimate matters if don't trust him. When a guy expresses his desire for you to trust him, he wants to relay that he needs you to be open to him and tell everything that concerns both of you. He is also opening himself up so that you can tell him matters even if such can hurt him personally.

Meaning # 7: He will not do anything that would hurt you
Trusting someone entails that you trust him not to hurt you. Therefore, if your guy has asked you to trust him, then, you can have an assurance that he will not break your heart sometime in the future. Moreover, hearing those words from a guy also means that he will not attempt to break the trust that you have given him.

What Does It Mean When a Guy Wants You to Trust Him? Understand the Real Motive Behind This

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Does He Love Me? - Test Whether He Has Feelings For You

If you have your eye on a special someone or are dating him already, you may be asking yourself, "Does he love me?" Sometimes it is very hard to know what a man is really feeling. When you have a crush on or are deeply in love with a man, it is natural to desperately want to know where he stands in terms of his love for you. Does he love you - or is he just possibly interested in your for the short term with no real intention of making this a long-term (or life-long) commitment to love?

If these types of questions are running through your mind constantly, take this short test to find out if he really has feelings of love for you.

Motive

1. Does his face light up whenever you are near?

Does He Love Me? - Test Whether He Has Feelings For You

The eyes are the window to the soul, as my grandmother used to always say. Pay close attention to his eyes whenever his is near. Of course, his showing strong eye contact when he talks to you is important - but that is only half of the story. After all, eye contact can merely mean he is he interested in you physically, or that he just likes you as a friend. However, if you can tell that he gets a real sense of joy whenever you are around, that can be a strong indicator of his deeper feelings for you.

2. Does he show signs of being protective or slightly jealous over you?

A man who has deep feelings for a woman are almost always motivated to protect the object of his love and affection. This tendency probably has evolutionary roots in our past, when men literally fought for the woman they wanted to mate with. While we are way past these primordial cave man days, men who carry a beloved woman in their hearts always feel the need to make her feel protected and safe at all times. This feeling can be likened to the maternal instinct in women as they protect their young - and we all know how strong that can be. So, look for signs that he gets a little jealous over you or wants to ensure your safety and well-being.

3. Does he ever ask about your family or friends?

If your man (or the man you want to make yours) is thinking thoughts of love and commitment about you, he will definitely want to get to know you at a deeper level. Your guy will want to know all about your family and your friends, because asking these questions makes him feel closer to you. And, his asking these questions indicates that he is not just in it for the short term - or just interested in a purely physical relationship.

4. Does he talk about your future together?

Similarly, a man who really loves you will have thoughts of your mutual future together. He will occasionally make references to something you will do together next month or next year. This indicates that, in his mind's eye, he is making plans for larger future and that this future includes you in a starring role.

5. Does ask about what you were like as a child?

You know your man is crazy for you if he asks questions about what it was like for you growing up. This, too, indicates that he has deep feelings for you. He wants to know more about what makes you tick - what makes you who you are. The more details he asks, the surer you can be that he is interested.

While it is impossible to read his mind, in many ways your man is not as complex as you may think: you can figure out what he is really feeling. So, if you are asking yourself, "Does he love me?", test yourself by answering these 5 simple questions.

Does He Love Me? - Test Whether He Has Feelings For You

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How to Recognize Motivational Speakers in Pulpits

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. -- Galatians 1:8

Over the years I’ve watched, with indignation and concern, the proliferation of motivational speakers in pulpits. I’ve watched how many churches and preachers are replacing the gospel of Jesus Christ with motivational speaking. I’ve watched how some of these preachers have even built mega churches and empires with this brand of the “gospel.” But even worse, I’ve watched how droves of people have been misled into believing that they are getting fed the Bread of Life; i.e. the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ, not knowing that they are being served motivational speeches on a platter, spiced with scriptures.

Motivational

But I’m not as concerned about these motivational speakers in pulpits, as I am concerned about the spiritual well being of the thousands of people attending their churches; and the several million worldwide television viewers whose lives are being impacted by their teachings.

How to Recognize Motivational Speakers in Pulpits

It is this concern for the spiritually helpless that has led me to expose some of these preachers for who they really are; to warn you, the followers and would-be followers of these preachers. I write to alert the Body of Christ about this proliferation in the Church; the danger of motivational speaking packaged as the gospel; and to teach you how to recognize a motivational speaker in the pulpit when you come across one; which I say, sadly, that there are many out there.

So, let’s start by identifying the two leading motivational speakers in pulpits or what I call, “motivational preachers.” The two leading motivational preachers of our time are Pastor Joel Osteen of the New Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas and Bishop T.D. Jakes of the Potter’s House, Dallas, Texas!

Surprised? Maybe! Maybe not! However, if you are surprised to learn that these two are motivational preachers, perhaps it’s because they are your favorite preachers. Perhaps, it’s because you’ve always thought them to be “O Great Ones.” Or maybe it’s because of their success, popularity, ministry size, followership, etc. or even because of the good they’ve done in society. For instance, Jakes’ Woman Thou Art Loosed book or prison outreach ministry. Or Osteen’s book, Your Best Life Now.

As humans, we tend to attribute worldly success, good works, ministry size, popularity, followership, etc. with godly success. Therefore, the bigger a church, the more popular or successful a preacher, the more success we think a person or organization has. We even credit these successes to God’s blessings. But worldly success, good works, ministry size or even large followership is not necessarily the measure of godly success. A person can have all these, yet not be godly. For instance, Oprah Winfrey has all these attributes, but yet she’s not a preacher; neither can her success be considered godly; because of what she espouses.

So we cannot go by worldly success, good works, popularity, ministry size or even followership. In fact, T.D. Jakes in a CNN/TIME article was described as “Oprah-in-a-pulpit. But for Winfrey's generic spirituality, Jakes substitutes God.” That is to say that, if Oprah were to be a preacher, she’d probably have one of the largest churches in the world! But thankfully, she has enough sense to stay in her lane (at least for now). So, all these attributes have nothing to do with godly success!

But just before we look at why Joel Osteen and T.D. Jakes are motivational preachers, let’s first understand what motivational speaking is, the benefits of motivational speaking and the danger of packaging motivational speaking as the gospel.

What is Motivational Speaking?

Simply, motivational speaking is an encouraging, uplifting speech; intended to motivate the listeners to do better and be better in specific areas of their lives. In a sense, the motivational speaker is an encourager – i.e. the people’s cheer leader. He or she motivates people into action. Motivational speaking is based primarily on mental or human strength and not God’s strength. It is what a person can do in his or her own strength, rather than what God can do through the person in His strength.

Benefits of Motivational Speaking

Without a doubt, motivational speaking has its place in society. Don’t get me wrong, there are many benefits of motivational speaking. For instance, it uplifts people; makes them feel good about themselves. It motivates them to see that they can do better and don’t have to settle for less or live beneath their means. It makes people strive for excellence, forgetting the past – past hurts, bitterness, anger, malice, etc. It can make people reach or strive for their full potentials. It can even help some unforgiving people to forgive those that have hurt them.

So yes! There are many benefits of motivational speaking. There’s nothing wrong with motivational speaking; IF it’s outside the pulpit. And as long as the people listening to it know for a fact that that’s what they are listening to. It’s only a problem when it’s coming from the pulpit as the gospel, and it’s mistaken for the gospel. We don’t go to church to listen to motivational speaking. Neither do we go to church to be entertained. Rather, we go to church to be taught the uncompromised Word of God, rightly divided. If motivational speaking is what one wants, one can just go to a Les Brown or Willie Jolley speaking engagement, to be motivated.

Now, does that mean that you cannot be motivated by the gospel? Absolutely, you can. However, there is a difference in how the gospel inspires you to become the Word, and how motivational speaking motivates. Motivational speaking motivates through feel-good messages; which, like euphoria, are not lasting. But the gospel inspires through doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). Not through goody-goody, self empowerment messages.

So, if you leave church feeling good about yourself after every service, chances are you are listening to a motivational preacher. No one should leave church feeling good after service every time; which is what motivational speaking does – makes you feel good about yourself. There should be something in a message that convicts you; i.e., shows you the errors of your ways and how to correct them, so that you can be fit for the Master’s use. By that I don’t mean beat you up or condemn you; but convict you. There is a difference.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Well, if the Word of God pierces even to the division of soul and spirit, how can a person listen to a sermon and go away feeling giddy, and not be convicted? After all, a double-edged sword is not a toy. Rather it cuts, and cuts deep. But the Word of God is even sharper!

The Danger of Motivational Speaking Packaged as the Gospel

Perhaps you ask, “If the motivational speaker motivates people into action, and encourages them to be better, what is wrong with that?” Nothing! If it’s done outside the pulpit! However, motivational speaking disguised as the gospel is very dangerous because it’s often mistaken for the true gospel. It’s like a chocolate covered poison – tastes good to you, but not good for you. Motivational speaking packaged as the gospel blurs the line between the gospel and humanism; which really is what motivational speaking is about. It blurs the line between human ability and God’s ability.

Unless exposed, motivational speaking can be difficult to discern from the gospel. So much so that even a motivational preacher may not know that that’s what he or she is doing. This is the other reason why I’m writing this article; to help other motivational speakers out there to identify and stay in their lanes. So that they don’t mistake their motivational speaking skills for a call to preach the gospel or pastor a church.

What is the Gospel?

Perhaps by now you are thinking, “If motivational speaking is not the gospel, so what is the Gospel?” Simply, the gospel is the “good news” of Jesus Christ. And the good news of Jesus is redemption or salvation from sin.

The major difference between motivational speaking and the gospel is better explained by this analogy…Motivational speaking can be likened to scratching an itch – it relieves the itching but doesn’t cure the cause of the itch. It doesn’t have the power to cure the cause of the itching. It is the truth of God’s Word that cures the cause of the itching. It is the truth of God’s Word that makes people free (John 8:32). Not philosophy, psychology or politics. Not sociology, fables or personal opinions.

Therefore, the primary role of a true preacher is to teach the truth of God’s Word, rightly divided.

A true preacher teaches his or her congregation how to be true disciples for Jesus Christ; so that they can disciple others. In other words, be an extension of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. A true preacher doesn’t teach his or her congregation always about what it can get from God, but what it can do for God to help further His Kingdom; i.e., how they can live for Him.

If you study the lives of Jesus Christ and the early disciples (our examples), you’ll see that the least of their concern was seeking God for what they could get from Him. Rather, their primary concern was denying themselves for the gospel’s sake; to seek and save the Lost. Likewise, the primary role of a true preacher is to perfect his or her congregation to be like-minded. And not this foolishness you see on Christian TV or hear on radio about what you can get from God or what God can do for you – a trait shared by motivational preachers and prosperity preachers.

Why Jakes and Osteen are Motivational Speakers in Pulpits

Without a doubt, both Jakes and Osteen are dynamic and electrifying speakers – Jakes especially. But don’t be fooled by all that theatrics. When you go to church, you go to church to be taught the Word of God; not to be entertained; which unfortunately is what goes on in many of these churches. You don’t go to church to be mesmerized either, but to learn how to relate with God, and how to seek Him for yourself. If entertainment is what you want, you can go to a concert or a circus. Neither do you go to church to hear someone’s “old wives’ fable” as apostle Paul puts it in 1 Timothy 4:7; which is what Joel Osteen does. His sermons are full of stories after stories.

Most motivational preachers, like Jakes and Osteen, preach to please the listeners. They preach what they know the people want to hear. They preach a generic, non-offensive “gospel”; to borrow T.D. Jakes’ words, “a user-friendly” gospel. That is why most of their sermons are either about what God can do for the people or what the people can get from God: favor, promotion, blessing, victory, etc.

Jakes, in a CNN’s Paula Zahn interview, says the reason for his church growth is because he is more user friendly and sensitive to people. Here is an excerpt of the interview…

ZAHN: You have grown quite a flock. Where do you think you're connecting where others aren't?

JAKES: Well, I've thought about that quite a bit, Paula.

I really do think that we've touched a felt need in the community to understand that people are dealing with issues and crises and to be user friendly, sensitive to them. I have tried to find biblical answers to sociological ills and to encourage people, in spite of pains and traumas, to be all that they can be. That was the purpose of The Potter's House Church in Dallas, Texas, as I pastored there for the last eight years and even with MegaFest here in Atlanta.

ZAHN: I'm curious about something you just said. You said you have to be user-friendly. What does that mean, less like the churches maybe many of us went to growing up?

JAKES: Yes. Maybe the focus is not on being starchy and prudish and routines and rituals, but just open and sensitive to the need for people, the ability to hear, not so critical, but open to understand and embrace and encourage people, motivating them, rather than pushing and beating on them.

Joel Osteen shares the same belief in a Larry King Live interview; and reiterates in a Washington Post article…

KING: But you're not fire and brimstone, right? You're not pound the decks and hell and damnation?

OSTEEN: No. That's not me. It's never been me. I've always been an encourager at heart. And when I took over from my father he came from the Southern Baptist background and back 40, 50 years ago there was a lot more of that. But, you know, I just -- I don't believe in that. I don't believe -- maybe it was for a time. But I don't have it in my heart to condemn people. I'm there to encourage them. I see myself more as a coach, as a motivator to help them experience the life God has for us.

KING: But don't you think if people don't believe as you believe, they're somehow condemned?

OSTEEN: You know, I think that happens in our society. But I try not to do that. I tell people all the time, preached a couple Sundays about it. I'm for everybody. You may not agree with me, but to me it's not my job to try to straighten everybody out. The Gospel (is) called the good news. My message is a message of hope, that's God's for you. You can live a good life no matter what's happened to you. And so I don't know. I know there is condemnation but I don't feel that's my place.

KING: You've been criticized for that, haven't you?

OSTEEN: I have. I have. Because I don't know.

KING: Good news guy, right?

OSTEEN: Yeah. But you know what? It's just in me. I search my heart and I think, God, is this what I'm supposed to do? I made a decision when my father died, you know what? I'm going to be who I feel like I'm supposed to be. And if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Not the end of the world if I'm not the pastor...

By “condemnation”, Osteen means preaching against sin or confronting unrighteousness; which he never does. Lois Romano, a Washington Post Staff Writer, in an interview with Osteen, writes...“Osteen, 41, does not sweat or yell, or cry for sinners to repent. He preaches an energetic, New Age gospel of hope and self-help – simple Scripture-based motivational messages, notably devoid of politics and hot-button policy issues…He aims to present himself as neutral as possible, he says, in order not to offend or generate controversy.”

Some preachers’ argument about not preaching against sin or unrighteousness is that God is love, so we should preach more about God’s love and not about God’s wrath or “fire and brimstone,” as they call it. As reasonable as that may sound, unfortunately that’s half the gospel, not the full gospel. True. God is love. But God is fierce too. Jesus never minced words about the judgment or wrath of God; while teaching about the love of God. Neither did the early Disciples.

So, this idea of not preaching about God’s wrath or condemnation (unrighteousness) is misguided and misleading, to say the least! And only meant to deceive and lull people to sleep; or need I say hell! Therefore, a true preacher sent from God preaches about the love of God; encourages the congregation to press towards the mark and stay the course; preaches about the wrath of God and against unrighteousness; and even generates controversy if he has to. That’s the full, uncompromised gospel.

Jesus never failed to confront unrighteousness, generate controversy or preach “fire and brimstone” where appropriate. Jesus confronted the religious leaders in His days, the Scribes and Pharisees. All through Matthew 23, He denounced their hypocritical ways saying, “Woe (doom) unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” He called sin what it is -- sin. He didn’t tip toe through the tulips; to borrow the cliché.

Also, most motivational preachers hardly use the Bible when they preach; because they teach to people’s emotions for crowd reaction, and not their spirit. T.D. Jakes is the master of this. Yes, they may quote a few scriptures or use some Bible stories here and there, but they hardly allow God to use His Word (The Bible) to speak directly to His people. And when they do, they usually read from the Old Testament; often misusing it, not knowing how it relates to us in the dispensation of grace.

I once heard T.D. Jakes say, using the story of Joseph’s dream in the Bible to prove a point, that one should not reveal one’s dreams or plans too soon to people. He said that it was because Joseph revealed his dreams too soon to his brothers that he ended up in an Egyptian jail. As good and convincing that may sound, that’s not scriptural. Rather, Joseph ended up in Egypt so that he could preserve the family of Jacob (Israel) from an upcoming famine, which God knew would come.

And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life… And God sent me before you to preserve posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God… Genesis 45:4-5; 7-8

These preachers rarely use the Bible because they know that the Bible will expose their lies. So, what they do is quote a few scriptures here and there, often out of context, and move on. And rightfully so, because if you want to keep a person ignorant forever, keep the Book away from the person. They’ve been able to get away with this for so long, simply because they know that most Christians don’t or rarely read the Bible on their own; and therefore don’t know what’s in it. Not even those Christians who attend churches where the Bible is read!

Rather, most Christians’ knowledge of the Bible is based on someone else’s interpretation of the Bible, or lack thereof. Most Christians live and die based on someone else’s interpretation; and not what they learned from the Bible themselves by God’s Spirit.

One other thing many motivational preachers have in common is in their usage of the word “God” and “Jesus.” Many motivational preachers say “God” more than say “Jesus.” To them, the name “God” is not as “offensive” or “controversial” as the name “Jesus.” Joel Osteen is guilty of this. But then, what do you expect from a guy trying “not to offend or generate controversy?”

For instance, Osteen will preach an entire sermon, hardly mentioning the name of Jesus, but God. Yet at the end of the broadcast extends to you an invitation to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior; which is kind of ironic. I mean, it’s like a man telling you all day about his friend, James, only to say to you, “Oh by the way, meet my friend, Mark,” whom you know nothing about. Makes you want to ask, “Who is Mark?” since he spent all his time telling you about James, not Mark.

I can understand why some of the preachers hardly use the name “Jesus.” It takes someone with a genuine relationship with God through Jesus Christ to say the name “Jesus.” Besides, the name “God” can mean anything to anybody. But it is the name “Jesus” that differentiates what God you are talking about. Most people don’t have a problem with the name “God.” The name they have a problem with is the name “Jesus.” That is “the stone of stumbling and rock of offense” (1 Peter 2:8). That is the name given under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

In the Early Church, when the apostles were preaching the gospel and performing several miracles in the name of Jesus, the Jewish council had a problem with them because they were preaching and performing miracles in the name of Jesus. If they had been preaching in the name of God, they wouldn’t have had a problem with them.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:27-29

But Joel Osteen would rather be politically correct than affirm the name of Jesus. In the same Larry King interview, King asked Osteen if Jesus was the only way to heaven, and he could not answer in the affirmative! Here is another excerpt of the interview…

KING: Is it hard to lead a Christian life?

OSTEEN: I don't think it's that hard. To me it's fun. We have joy and happiness. Our family -- I don't feel like that at all. I'm not trying to follow a set of rules and stuff. I'm just living my life.

KING: But you have rules, don't you?

OSTEEN: We do have rules. But the main rule to me is to honor God with your life. To live a life of integrity. Not be selfish. You know, help others. But that's really the essence of the Christian faith.

KING: That we live in deeds?

OSTEEN: I don't know. What do you mean by that?

KING: Because we've had ministers on who said your record don't count. You either believe in Christ or you don't. If you believe in Christ, you are, you are going to heaven. And if you don't, no matter what you've done in your life, you ain't.

OSTEEN: Yeah, I don't know. There's probably a balance between. I believe you have to know Christ. But I think that if you know Christ, if you're a believer in God, you're going to have some good works. I think it's a cop-out to say I'm a Christian but I don't ever do anything...

KING: What if you're Jewish or Muslim, you don't accept Christ at all?

OSTEEN: You know, I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know...

KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They're wrong, aren't they?

OSTEEN: Well, I don't know if I believe they're wrong. I believe here's what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God will judge a person's heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don't know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don't know. I've seen their sincerity. So I don't know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus.

For someone who is the pastor of a local church, it seems like there are a lot of things Osteen doesn’t know. Could this be a case of the blind leading the blind? One can only guess…

Anyway, there are many more reasons why these two preachers top the list of motivational preachers -- too many than time or space will allow. But for the sake of time and space, here is a comparison chart below summarizing some of the differences between a motivational preacher and a true preacher. This chart also can help you to identify other motivational preachers.

Differences Between a Motivational Preacher and a True Preacher

Motivational Preacher --

Teachings are geared to arouse emotions; i.e. flesh-tingling, flesh-pleasing sermons

True Preacher --

Teachings are geared to the inner man (the spirit); i.e., spirit-pleasing sermons
(1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

Motivational Preacher --

Teachings are about self empowerment through self-will

True Preacher --

Teachings are about God empowerment by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6)

Motivational Preacher --

Teachings make congregants self-centered; i.e., what they can get from God: favor, blessing, promotion, joy, victory, etc.

True Preacher --

Teachings make congregants self-less; i.e. deny self, take up cross and follow Christ, and esteem others above self (Matthew 16:24 and Philippians 2:3)

Motivational Preacher --

Sermons are superficial -- lack spiritual depths – all humanism

True Preacher --

Sermons have spiritual depths – rooted in Christ (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)

Motivational Preacher --

Challenges a person to do better and be better

True Preacher --

Challenges a person to present his/her body as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2)

Motivational Preacher --

Encourages to make self (hearer) feel good

True Preacher --

Convicts to convert (2 Timothy 3:16)

Motivational Preacher --

Rarely uses the Bible

True Preacher --

Uses the Bible; rightly dividing the Word
(2 Timothy 2:15)

Motivational Preacher --

Elevates self (the preacher)

True Preacher --

Elevates Christ (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)

Motivational Preacher --

Full of fables or personal stories – teaches about problems

True Preacher --
Equips the hearer to use the information learned to resolve problems; i.e., teaches about a solution (Ephesians 4:11-14)

Motivational Preacher --

Hardly preaches against sin or unrighteousness

True Preacher --

Preaches against sin or unrighteousness, among other topics (Romans 1)

By no way is this list exhaustive. But it’s just enough to show you the major differences between a motivational preacher and a true preacher. Motivational speaking is motivational speaking. The gospel is the gospel. They are not the same. Nothing even close!

Now, having made that distinction let me reiterate that I have nothing against these preachers or the fact that they are motivational preachers. I’m only concerned about the thousands of spiritually hungry people listening to them, some of whom have a sincere heart to learn God’s Word, and think that they are listening to God’s Word, but have no idea that what they are listening to is motivational speaking packaged as the gospel.

So, my main reason for writing this article is not to convince you that your pastor or favorite televangelist is a motivational speaker with a Bible. No! My goal is to warn you or those listening to these preachers who are unaware that they are getting doses of motivational speeches, in place of the gospel. I write to tell you to “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8

However, if you are still doubtful as to whether Jakes and Osteen are motivational preachers or not, using the chart above, I challenge you to listen to both of them for a month; (probably won’t take you that long to figure them out), and see if you won’t see through their smokescreen. But before watching them, pray. Ask God to make clear to you what He needs you to see concerning these two, beyond their dynamic style of teaching and charisma.

You can go to their websites for a listing of their broadcast schedule in your area or you might even be able to stream some sermon videos online.

Now, let me say that while listening to them you’ll hear some things that make sense or sound good to you. That’s common with motivational speaking. But beyond that, you should be able to see through the charade.

By no means are these two the only motivational preachers. So, just because your pastor or favorite televangelist does not make this list does not mean that you may not be listening to a motivational preacher. Therefore, do the same thing you’d do for Jakes and Osteen’s teachings for your pastor or favorite televangelist’s teachings. Take the chart above and compare your pastor or favorite televangelist’s teachings with it to see if he or she qualifies as a motivational preacher or not.

My prayer for you is “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1:17-18

P.S.:

Scripture references taken from the New King James Version Bible!

For a full interview transcript of the King/Osteen interview go to: http://transcripts.cnn.com/transcripts/0506/20/lkl.01.html

For the Washington Post/Osteen article go to:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47023-2005Jan29.html

For streaming video of Joel Osteen’s sermons, go to:

[http://www.lakewood.cc/site/PageServer]

For a broadcast schedule of T.D. Jakes’ sermons, go to:

[http://www.thepottershouse.org/index.php?tv=schedule]

You have to pay i.e. be a “covenant partner” to stream Jakes’ sermons online!

How to Recognize Motivational Speakers in Pulpits

For questions, comments or concerns, send an email to Godsgem@hotmail.com

For more articles by the author, go to: http://www.lordsquill.com

15 Clinchers to Motivate and Persuade

What's a clincher? It's a statement at the end of your promotional piece, that motivates the reader to take the next step.

Up to this point, your material is focused on persuading the reader that he or she really needs your service or product. Now, when they're teetering on the brink of a decision, it's time to use some nifty phrases to help push them over the edge.

Motivate

Here are some examples for you to copy. Or to use as patterns to adapt to your own situation.

15 Clinchers to Motivate and Persuade

- Why settle for [this] when you can have [that]?

- What do you have to lose?

- We have only a limited supply.

- You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

- That's all it takes.

- Don't miss out!

- Put these ideas to work for you.

- Now it's time for you to make a winning decision.

- Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

- Reserve your [item] today.

If your goal is to have people contact you, here are some clinchers that will help get them to pick up the phone or make a beeline for your store.

- Please don't hestitate to call us.

- We'd love to hear from you.

- Just give us a call.

- All you have to do is fill out the enclosed form.

- Come in and introduce yourself to us!

Often promotional materials leave you thinking "What now?" When you use a powerful clincher, the reader knows exactly what's expected of her. Without any direction, she's at a loss to know what happens next. When you don't give clear instructions, she'll be confused and is likely to leave your website, discard your letter, or just dump your ad in the trash can.

It's up to you to make sure she doesn't.

Now it's your turn: What clinchers could you use to underscore your offer?

15 Clinchers to Motivate and Persuade

Maggie Dennison is a Marketing Consultant and Writer. She is the author of "11 Steps To Marketing Materials That Get You Clients NOW!" Maggie holds a Master's Degree in Applied Psychology, and is fascinated with what triggers people to do the things they do. And that's exactly what marketing materials are all about. Pick up a free report "11 Keys to Website Content That Works" at her website http://MyMarketingmessage.com.

5 Ways To Know If He Really Loves Me Before I Let Myself Fall Too Deep

When a Woman becomes seriously involved with a Man you can be certain that one of the first questions you ask yourself is does he love me. This is a very important question because if you are planning on taking this relationship to another level or perhaps you have started thinking about marriage. Here are a few things to consider while trying to figure out how he feels.

1. A Man who really loves a Woman is proud to be with her and can't wait to show her off to friends and family. If he is not taking you to places were you come in contact with those most close to him it could be time to wonder if he is right for you.

Motive

2. A man really loves you when he takes the time to be with you and to do the things you love to do. It is easy for him when you do the things he likes to do, but remember that even though he is romantic and likes to have sex with you does not mean he loves you.

5 Ways To Know If He Really Loves Me Before I Let Myself Fall Too Deep

3. Gifts don't always mean he loves you, just because he purchases something expensive doesn't always mean he loves you. He may just have a lot of money to spend and it is those things that are free and have deep sentimental value that show you how much he loves you.

4. When he tells you he loves you can be a clue to if he really loves you. If he says he loves you only after you say it first you may need to be suspect. If he tells you this before you get into bed to make love you may want to question his motive. Sometimes we know if a man really loves us by how he says it and were he says it., generally you will know when he is sincere.

5. Does he see a future with you because if he really loves you he will want to spend the rest of his life with you. He should be talking about having a future with you and possible be talking about marriage. If he doesn't he may be looking at your relationship as just temporary.

After reading this article and you are still wondering if that special guy is in love with you then I think it is time for you to start looking somewhere else before you fall for him and may get hurt.

5 Ways To Know If He Really Loves Me Before I Let Myself Fall Too Deep

Learn How To: Make Him Fall in Love

Learn How To: Get Top Lovemaking Tips

Bryan Burbank is an Expert in Kama Sutra for more information go to: http://www.elovemagic.com

Annual Goal Setting - How to Set Yearly Goals That Motivate You to Achieve

Annual Goal Setting can help you keep on track in the long run. If you do not have long term plans, then your short term plans will be poor because they have no higher objective.

NEW AREA

Motivate

Each year you should decide on a new area to focus on for that year. Do not overwhelm yourself with hundreds of goals. Pick one goal in one area and when that is complete, you can set another. Most people pick the area in which they lack most. This could be Health, Wealth, Spirituality, Career etc.

Annual Goal Setting - How to Set Yearly Goals That Motivate You to Achieve

KEEP A JOURNAL

Keep a one line journal and write something every day that you put towards achieving your goal. This will be a motivating factor, takes little time and can show you how much you've achieved and when you achieved it.

REST, WORK AND PLAY

Do not forget that with all the work that you will be doing, you need to rest also. Have a day each week where you totally relax by going out with friends or spending time in reflective solitude.

REWARD YOURSELF

Keeping on going towards a distant goal can be challenging at the best of times. Make sure you reward yourself frequently, especially at the start. By doing this you use the power of positive reinforcement to keep your subconscious going towards the goal.

DIVIDE

Divide up your goals into smaller units that you can manage. When you have a clearly defined action which you can act on in the next 24 hours, the goal does not seem so daunting anymore. Have weekly, monthly and half yearly goals.

All In all, what you need is an excellent goal-setting system like no other. One that, as long as you are willing to put in hard work gives you results time after time, again and again. Just think what your life would look and feel like if you could effortlessly achieve your goals? How would your family life, career, income and spiritual life look?

Annual Goal Setting - How to Set Yearly Goals That Motivate You to Achieve

Now the problem is, how do we set those goals and successfully achieve them? To get this essential part of your life sorted towards manifesting the life you love and deserve Click Here!

How to Lead, Manage, Motivate and Supervise Employees Effectively

As a manager, leader or supervisor, a great importance is your ability to lead and manage your subordinates / staff - the people under your purview - effectively. The following tips are meant to help you improve your leadership skills and relationships with your subordinates and get stronger supports from them.

1. Be fair to everyone

Motivate

Treat each of your subordinates / staff fairly and respectfully. Some people are by nature more likeable than others, but as a supervisor, you have to avoid even the slightest hint of favouritism; be fair to everyone. You may have to be flexible in your leadership style for each of your subordinates.

How to Lead, Manage, Motivate and Supervise Employees Effectively

2. Develop everyone

Everyone is unique. Each subordinate has his / her own strengths and weaknesses. So, work on developing the abilities or the potentials of every employee. Don't overlook the need to provide any necessary resources and training needed by the employees to do the job. By doing so, they will perceive that you care for their well-beings. In return, they will be more respectful to you and hence, work better.

3. Know and like your subordinates

Learn the individual strengths and weaknesses of the people you supervise. This will aid you in assigning tasks on the basis of skills rather than at random. It will make them feel good working with you.

4. Show continuing interest in your subordinates

Show continuing interest in your subordinates by providing feedback on their performance regularly - not just at performance evaluation time. Be honest whether they are doing well or bad. This means, giving praise when it deserved - not when it isn't.

5. Criticize with care

Be diplomatic whenever you criticize any aspects of an employee's performance. Never jump to any judgement or conclusion without thinking first the consequences of your critics. So, be tactful to your subordinates at all the time. They will surely appreciate you for being a considerate leader / manager.

6. Be flexible

Be flexible in dealing with employee's concerns. Going strictly by set procedures won't always give you the flexibility you need to resolve individual performance. So, always use your good common sense.

7. Give simple directions

Give simple, but specific job directions at any time you assign a new task to a worker. Make things not so difficult in the eyes of your subordinates even if it is in actuality a challenging task. This will make them feel good and confident doing the job assigned to them.

8. Defend your subordinates

Defend your subordinates against unfair criticisms; be with them. Make them think and feel that your are a reasonable or supportive leader / manager / supervisor.

9. Be a coach - not a general

Remember! You are at work, not at war. So, be loyal to your subordinates as well as to the company / organization / employer. Include subordinates in the decision-making process whenever feasible. You can also show your leadership qualities by working to obtain promotions, pay raises, and awards for deserving employees.

How to Lead, Manage, Motivate and Supervise Employees Effectively

© 2010 by Taidin Suhaimin - http://www.taidinsuhaimin.com

Taidin Suhaimin is Sabah, Malaysia's international speaker and trainer on personal development, leadership & communication. Since 1993, he has conducted seminars, conferences and courses to thousand of individuals from Diplomats to primary schools students from more than 200 organizations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Motivational Speaking and Motivation for Life - A New Approach

As a Professional Motivational Speaker, I believe that Motivation is the Software of the Soul". Professional Motivational Speakers can help improve the bottom line and lives through the use of motivational speaking workshops and motivational keynote presentations. Motivational speakers are in demand in today's hyper- competitive business environment.

Any endeavor in a business environment requires actions and reactions involved in getting things done through others and have motivational implications. Getting these motivational factors right can make the difference between getting the tasks or business done effectively or ineffectively, productively or unproductively, with co-operation or without co-operation. This is where a seasoned motivational speaker can assist in getting the team focused on the task at hand.

Motivational

The subject of Motivational Speaking and Motivation may seem complex and contain some ambiguity, however, it is extremely important for managers and for the company as a whole to get this aspect of motivational speaking and management right. For the new manager or for managers who have not studied motivational speaking or management concepts before, and motivation in particular, motivational speakers can provide insight into human behavior.

Motivational Speaking and Motivation for Life - A New Approach

My thoughts and experiences on motivational speaking will hopefully challenge your thinking as it relates to motivational speaking and lead you to arrive at an understanding and a personalized approach to motivation, the motivational speaker as a management tool and resource and the development of your own motivational speaking and management style.

It is extremely important to consider how we interact with others and the impact motivational speakers have on our behavior and values. Some managers seem to have a track record of success, but a glance under the surface reveals that they are despised by many and have cost the company significantly, this is where a professional motivational speaker can possibly help stop people from leaving the company, reversing lost opportunities and increasing performance.

However, other managers seem to have a laid-back approach when it comes to hiring a motivational speaker. Motivational Speakers are highly regarded by all who have had the opportunity to hear them speak. Many employees readily acknowledge after hearing a motivational speaker that they feel better mentally and are more productive at work and home. Managers can study these variations of attitude which occur in individuals after hiring a motivational speaker, http:www.dougdvorak.com the results are fascinating. Understanding why this is so and adapting the positives is essential for managers after the motivational speaker program is over.

Motivation of people is a difficult business, influenced by a myriad of psychological and environmental factors which alter from person to person, from company to company and from manager to manager. This is why it is critical to hire a competent motivational speaker. Some motivational speakers are amateurish in their approach to the motivational speaking business, but the motivational speaking business is a serious business for seasoned motivational speaking professionals.

Motivational Speaking and Motivation for Life - A New Approach

Thank you for allowing me to share with you my thoughts on inspirational and motivational speaking.

Cordially Yours, Doug Dvorak

847.359.6969 –doug@dougdvorak.com

10 Motivational Quotes That Inspire You to Take Action

Motivational quotes can inspire you to do great things. If you have ever felt down and out before coming across an inspirational saying then you know what I mean when I say that motivation quotes can change your attitude instantly.

Inspirational quotes give you motivation to stay consistent in the pursuit of your dreams and goals.

Motivational

It is a good practice to start collecting a huge reservoir of quality quotes that you can pick from when you find yourself in need of emotional uplifting. Your character and strength will improve from the constant association that you have with the written thoughts of successful people.

10 Motivational Quotes That Inspire You to Take Action

Whenever I get tired or weary in my journey I lean on inspirational quotes to pick me up. I gain wisdom and encouragement from them. Sometimes all we need is a saying or words of wisdom to reinforce or resolve to press on.

Here are ten great motivational quotes that are sure to inspire you to take action:

1- You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. ~Zig Ziglar.
2- Try not to become a man of success but a man of value. ~Albert Einstein.
3- Do the thing you are afraid to do and the death of fear is certain. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson.
4 -We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. ~ Aristotle.
5 -Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. ~Jim Ryun.
6- Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. ~Winston Churchill.
7- One learns by doing a thing; for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try. ~Sophocles.
8- People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily. ~Zig Ziglar.
9- Worry got us nowhere. What did? Action. ~Paul & Tracey McManus.
10- Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. ~William B. Sprague.

You can read these quotes and others like them to quickly change your perspective and improve your attitude throughout the day.

Motivation quotes can often make the difference between success and failure. You may want to give up or procrastinate in times of difficulty. But if you will take the time to reflect on an inspiring quote you will gain extra energy and enthusiasm to keep moving forward.

You can also use these quotes like affirmations. Read them daily and dwell on the meaning that they provide to you. Link the uplifting message to what ever situation that you may be facing. Affirm that you are improving and growing stronger every day.

You will find that you belief, confidence and motivation increase in direct proportion to the amount of positive messages that you consistently reflect on.

10 Motivational Quotes That Inspire You to Take Action

And now I would like to invite you to claim your free access to my special report "Motivation Keys" by going to http://www.motivationkeys.com

From Anthony D. Carter - a leading expert on motivation.

3 Ways to Create a Motivational Collage

One powerful collage theme is motivation! But in order to create a motivational theme you first need to write down a goal. Start with a simple goal that relates to something personal that you are working to toward.
For example, I often have freshmen students in beginning art classes create a goal collage on their major. Where do they want to go? Where do they see their selves after graduation.

Consider the following 3 simple steps.

Motivational

1. Sort and gather images that will motivate you to reach a goal. For example, if you are remodeling your house only gather those images that relate to that process. This would not be the collage that has images of your last birthday party.

3 Ways to Create a Motivational Collage

2. Think possible not impossible

It is easy to get discouraged when doing your collage if you think about cost and other limitations. Stay focused on your dream. It can happen. That is why you are creating a collage with a goal in mind.

3. Have fun!

Think out of the box. Mix your images with powerful and inspiring words that will help you achieve your goals,

So write out your goals. Start searching for your images and get started.

If you need help doing goal setting I have a great coach for you.
Send an email to cegoals@aol.com. She will work with you to create solid goal statements using the SMART method. That stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and tangible.
And remember you can always contact me for any suggestions on your collage making process.

3 Ways to Create a Motivational Collage

Ray Horner is a fine artist and inspirational speaker http://www.hornerartworkshop.com

How To Write a Great Motivational Speech: Get Ready to Pull Out All the Emotional Stops

How do you go about writing a motivational speech? Well the first think you need to know is what the speech is for? Is it to encourage a sports team to make that extra effort to win a championship game? Is it to spur on a country to keep going when the odds are against it, as Winston Churchill did in Britain during World War II? Is it Martin Luther King delivering his I Have A Dream speech on behalf of all African Americans? Is it a CEO urging a sales team to produce exceptional results?

I have written several speeches where the objective was to encourage a team of people or group of individuals to perform at their best. Here are some thoughts for those of you who must write a speech to motivate others.

Motivational

Writers and speakers love to incorporate suitable quotes into their speeches as part of the motivation. Thousands of quotations have been used over the centuries from classics of literature, to Holy Books, to words of wisdom from the famous and not-so-famous. They serve as starting points to a speech. One of my favorites is from Grace Murray Hopper, a remarkable woman who happened to be an admiral in the US Navy as well as a computer scientist. Grace Hopper lived from 1906-1992 and here's the quote - A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are (built) for. The quote is a great metaphor for life and is easily workable into a motivational speech.

How To Write a Great Motivational Speech: Get Ready to Pull Out All the Emotional Stops

Another ideal component of a motivational speech is a story that generates an emotional response. Great examples of such stories are published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. They typically tell of human beings who persist through tough circumstances to come out on top. In a motivational speech, it's even better if the speaker has gone through difficult circumstances of their own, and can relate their story as an example to motivate others.

The conjuring up of images in a speech can also be very successful in helping to motivate people. Images and quotes from successful athletes can be very powerful. So too can images from nature. I once wrote a speech for a CEO to deliver to his company's sales team. In the speech he spoke of the need for preparation and quiet before a period of breakout performance. We used a metaphor of a tree in winter, quiet and conserving its energy prior to the onrush of spring. Everyone in the audience could identify with the image as they prepared for the new sales year. Winter was what they were now going through, but spring was just around the corner with its signs of hope and of prosperity. They could almost touch it.

Now think about the language you are using. My experience is that short sentences employing the simplest of words are often more effective than complex words and phrases. It's particularly powerful if the speaker takes his or her time, speaks slowly and softly, and allows the nuances of the words to come through.

If you have been hired to write a motivational speech, look for those things that can help you. Search out appropriate quotes, discover stories that convey the messages you want to get across. Are there images and metaphors that will serve your purpose? At all times, keep your eyes and ears and intuition open for those situations, those events that spark the emotion and the language that expresses it. When you do that, your speech could and should get a standing ovation.

How To Write a Great Motivational Speech: Get Ready to Pull Out All the Emotional Stops

Neil Sawers develops books and e-books on business writing to help you grow your business. He is a strong supporter of entrepreneurs, small business and students in business and entrepreneurial programs. To discover how you can write more effective and compelling speeches for your business, begin by downloading the free chapter on The Discovery Process available at: http://www.how-to-write-proposals.com. In this chapter you will find great tools and concepts to support any business writing you do. Check it out.

4 Tips For Writing Your Motivational Speaker Biography

Have you ever wanted to set yourself up for public speaking success before you ever take the stage? One of the most effective ways a speaker can become appreciated before ever opening their mouths is to write a killer biography. Just like your resume is used to get a job, your speaker bio is used to sell audience on your credentials and their excitement to hear what you have to say. Creating an effective written biography is one of the most essential, yet overlooked factors is giving a great speech. I'm now going to show you how to make a great one!

Make no mistake about the importance of this: Your bio will sell you to the meeting planner and attendees. To be effective, it must be written correctly, so here are four tips you can apply to make your motivational speaker biography stand out.

Motivational

1. Ask yourself, "What have I done that will impress or 'wow' the audience?" What have you done with your life that makes you qualified to speak on your subject? What have you accomplished in your life? Who have you shared the stage with? What have you done that will make people say, "wow!" What would you be fascinated in hearing about someone else speak about? Include this first in your biography.

4 Tips For Writing Your Motivational Speaker Biography

2. Ask yourself, "What have I done to add credibility?" Have you published a book recently? People are very impressed by this. If you do not have a book published yet, you can focus on a soon-to-be-released book. Who have you worked for, or who has worked for you? Have you ever held a position of distinction or accomplished something of significance? Include this next.

3. Ask yourself, "How can I impress my audience?" Think about your background. Did you accomplish something no one has or did? if so, include it. This will make your attendees say 'wow' before they even get to hear you speak.

4. Connect yourself with a celebrity or a person they know. Write about the people or companies you've done work for... or better yet, include a picture of yourself with the president of the company you are speaking for, or, if you've got it, with a celebrity. If you can't get any of these, you can always write about how many states or countries you've been to! Make yourself appear to be connected to celebrity in some manner, and people will take note!

Utilize these four steps and present the best motivational speaker biography you can. You'll attract a huge audience who's excited to hear you speak (which means plenty of money in your pocket). Now go put these ideas to use!

4 Tips For Writing Your Motivational Speaker Biography

[http://www.GetSpeakingJobs.com] is where you can find over 100+ hours of downloadable audio and video lessons that will show you how to make 0,000 to ,000,000 dollars PER YEAR as a professional speaker. James Malinchak, the author of this article can be your online business coach and mentor. Simply visit [http://www.GetSpeakingJobs.com] to get started today with several FREE professional speaking audio recordings.

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Effective Motivational Skills For Today's Managers - Life Lessons

Preview

Motivated employees will work more effectively in their jobs and do more to further the bottom-line objectives of a company than unmotivated employees. As a manager, you are in a position to increase the motivation of your employees. This basic managerial skill training in motivation will enable you to become a more effective manager for yourself, and for your company. You will learn how to handle motivational problems, which will help you gain 100% effectiveness of your employees.

Motivational

What Should You Expect From This Article

Effective Motivational Skills For Today's Managers - Life Lessons

As you know, motivation is a complex issue. Many psychologists and researchers spend their entire life investigating people's motivation to perform. Similarly, there are many books currently out in the bookstores promising to give us the secret for "getting others to do what we wish."

There are many theories of motivation; and different techniques to solve motivational problems. Rather than attempting to review all these theories, the purpose of this module is to look at six common motivational factors which will make the difference between employees who are motivated and employees who exhibit motivational problems. We will use only as much "theory" as needed to gain basic understanding of each motivational issue. Primarily we will discuss what you can do to solve the motivational problem.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion, you will be able to:

o Recognize what types of employee behavior problems are motivational issues and which are not.

o State in simple language what is the real motivational factor behind different types of problems encountered as a manager and what you can do to correct each problem.

o Apply appropriate steps or response to resolve the motivational problem.

o Motivate average and above average performers to perform even better.

Training Format

This article is designed to do more than just give you information on motivation. Rather, it is set up to teach you skills which you can apply in your day to day jobs.

This will be accomplished by the use of exercises that require your involvement. Active participation will enable you to learn "what to do and how to do it," better than passively sitting back and being an observer. Keep this in mind as we proceed.

Manager's Methods Motivate

Many management experts agree that the key to employee morale and motivation is the quality of supervision they receive from their supervisor. It is for this reason that most businesses invest much time, energy, and money in the selection of their managers followed by in-depth training. In fact, this information is designed to assist you, the manager, in developing methods which have been "proven" to produce the highest possible motivation in your employees.

Who Is Responsible For Motivation

Managers share the responsibility in motivating their employees with the individual employees themselves. The manager is 100% responsible for establishing a motivating climate in which the employee works. The employee is 100% responsible for taking advantage of the motivating climate to perform the best they can perform.

Detecting Motivation Problems:

Focus On Behavior

Motivation is not something that we can directly see. That is the major reason why it is so complex. Instead, we observe a situation and notice that some action, tasks, or behaviors that should have occurred, have not occurred. Frequently, we call this a "motivation problem."

Like a detective, we must be aware of clues which hint of a "motivation problem" in an employee. These clues are behaviors.

Focusing on behaviors has several advantages:

o Behaviors are observable; they require only our attention-not complicated psychological analysis.

o Behaviors are objective; they are not easily open for mis-interpretation.

o Behaviors are measurable; we can count how many times a certain behavior occurs.

o Behaviors are specific and concrete; not abstract like the concept of motivation.

Begin by asking yourself, "What is he not doing? What behaviors, actions, or tasks should she be doing?" Be as specific and precise as possible. "He is not doing it the way he is supposed to" or "she is not committed" or "she has a bad attitude" are not specific behaviors. State the problem in terms of behavior.

Behaviors That May Indicate A "Motivational Problem"

As we have said, instead of focusing on the abstract and complex concept of motivation, go right to the behaviors from which we suspect the "motivation problem."

Motivation problems can be suspected from such behaviors as:

o Reduced quantity of work output.

o Reduced quality of work output.

o Extended lunch and break times.

o Frequent tardiness.

o Frequent absenteeism.

Motivation Worksheet 1 - (Take a few minutes to answer these questions.)

1. What behaviors indicate "a bad attitude" or "no commitment" in an employee?

2. Think of a particular unmotivated employee that you currently know or have known in a previous position or job. What specific behaviors did this person exhibit (or not exhibit) that leads you to believe they have a motivation problem?

3. List behaviors that you demonstrate when you are feeling unmotivated to do a task?

Selecting "Motivated Employees"

It makes our job of motivating employees much easier, when we start with employees who are "highly motivated." In other words, motivation comes easier. when we have the "right person for the job." The "hiring of motivated employees" is a selection decision. Make sure you identify the job-related skills a candidate possesses by thorough questioning. In this way, the job skills an employee possesses can be matched with the job skills required for success on the job. When a match occurs, we can feel confident that the person is the best candidate for the job.

In fact, a job candidate that was motivated to learn these key identified job-related skills in the past, will be motivated to use them, and learn additional skills, in the future. All personnel selection decisions are based on the theory that how a person performed in their past job predicts future job performance in a similar job-a job candidate motivated to perform in the past will most likely be motivated to perform in a similar situation in the future. Aim to improve motivation among the workforce by selecting job candidates who demonstrate job-related skills required for success with your company. The selected employee whose job matches their skills will show motivation to do a good job, a greater liking of their job, and a longer stay at their job.

Motivation Worksheet 2 - (Take a few minutes to answer these questions.)

1. Think of a position which you manage. Focus on the job, itself. List the job-related skills for this position. In other words, when interviewing to hire a candidate for the job, what skills should the candidate possess to be successful on the job?

2. In an interview, what might a job applicant say or do to indicate high motivation?

3. List two to three questions that would allow you to test their motivation level?

Training for Success

Training teaches people new skills, new procedures, or new information. It does not directly teach "motivation." However, training accomplishes something more-maybe a little harder to see-but still extremely important. Training can give an employee the ability to be successful. Employees who show signs of lack of ability can be taught how to perform correctly. Ability produces success. Success is a large motivator. Success breeds more success. Success produces pride of accomplishment; it fuels ambition; it increases personal goals; it increases performance.

Remember: Training produces successful performance and success motivates.

We must look at the problem behavior and decide whether the employee has the ability to do the task. Examine the ability of the employee. Ask yourself: "Does the employee have the knowledge or the skills to complete the task or job successfully?"

Consider the following about the employee:

o Prior work experience.

o Job related skills.

o Completed any of your company supported training programs.

o Special instruction, coaching, or tutoring.

A person with low ability, can be taught, trained, and coached to perform successfully. Once they feel that "good feeling of success" and all that comes with it (pat on the back, acknowledgement, and pay increase), their motivation may increase.

Be advised though, that there are two problem situations you can run into. First, some employees may require so much extra training, teaching, coaching, and tutoring before they attain some success that it requires more on your part than you can realistically give. In this case, you might have to realize that the employee "lacks too much" and other action is required.

The second problem situation is that some people who receive training and accomplish successful performance may still not show an increase in motivation. This can be due to other reasons which we will soon explore. Training is only one of many factors which play a part in motivating employees.

Remember: While training does not guarantee an increase in motivation, it can pave the way for greater motivation.

Motivation Worksheet 3 - (Take a few minutes to answer these questions.)

1. List specific behaviors which indicate poor motivation in an employee you manage.

2) Does the employee have the knowledge or skills to complete the tasks or job duties successfully?

3) What training programs currently exist that can teach, train, and coach the employee to perform successfully?

4) What existing employee could you have them work with to improve their performance in weak areas?

Motivation Through Communication and Goal Setting

Communicating what we expect from our employees and setting appropriate goals for which they should strive plays a big part in their motivation.

In order for employees to do a good job, they must know what it is they are expected to do. This direction comes from you, the manager. The manager has the responsibility of telling the employee in specific, concrete words:

o What should be done

o When to do it

o Where

o How, to proceed step-by-step

o Who else is involved, why it is important, etc.

The manager knows what constitutes a "good job;" ask yourself if the employee has the same understanding of what would be a "good job." When an employee thinks that he or she has given 100% while the manager thinks that the employee has only given 60%, the problem is not motivation; it is communication.

To determine if the problem behavior is a result of a breakdown in communication, the manager must ask herself, "Did I talk to the employee about my expectations?" That is, we as managers must determine whether we discussed objectives, duties, responsibilities, deadlines and performance. (How we communicate is an entirely additional, yet related, matter that will be addressed in the Communication Skill article). It can be difficult to look at our own behavior as managers, but we need to discover if we have contributed to the problem.

Not only must you, as a manager, tell the employee what needs to be done, but you must also make sure the employee understands your directions as you intend them.

An effective manager accomplishes this by:

o repeating directions

o Cclarifying instructions

o Demonstration

o Checking for understanding

o Observing progress

o Double-checking

o Follow-up

Remember: Good communication prevents misunderstandings and paves the way for employee motivation.

Goal Setting

There is one particular type of communication that has been repeatedly shown to be effective in improving employee motivation. This is the communicating of goals or objectives.

A goal or objective is simply a task we are attempting to accomplish. Goals direct our behavior. They help us follow a straight-line course to our ultimate objective. They prevent us from being like leaves being blown helplessly by the wind.

Goals and objectives foster motivation. We see the progress we are making toward our goal. We feel we are getting somewhere. Without goals, it is not always clear when we have been successful. Goals serve as a yardstick by which to measure our accomplishments.

Some objectives are too broad in scope to strive for directly. For example, to increase profits is a difficult goal to tackle all at once. Large scale goals need to be broken down into intermediate goals. Even intermediate goals sometimes require smaller goals that can be accomplished in a shorter amount of time.

A goal should be (using SMART acronyms):

o Specific: it should include who, what, where, when and how built into it.

o Measureable: progress toward the goal should be recorded frequently.

o Attainable: it should be reasonable and realistic; there should be a very good certainty of accomplishing it.

o Realistic: should also pass the reasonable and realistic test.

o Timebound, set and agreed to mutually developed: the highest motivation will occur when the employee plays a part in setting the goal, together with the manager. The employee should have input setting the goal.

Motivation Worksheet 4 - (Take a few minutes to answer these questions.)

Think of an employee that has a motivation problem. Focusing on the employee's behavior, write 3 goals for the employee to attain that will bring his work performance "up to par".

1)

2)

3)

Motivation Through Appraisal and Feedback

One of the most powerful ways to change the motivation of an employee is to appraise how he is performing his job duties and then to feed this information back to him.

I suggest you use two separate systems to provide employee appraisal and feedback. The Employee Performance Review (by whatever name you call the form) evaluates the job performance of individual workers in terms of pre-identified objectives and clearly notifies the employee "how they have done" in achieving these objectives. The Progressive Discipline System (by whatever name you call the form) also evaluates the job performance of individual workers in terms of job expectations and then clearly notifies the employee "how they have fallen short" in working up to these expectations. Although Employee Performance Review emphasize positive performance while Progressive Discipline emphasizes undesirable performance, both work in exactly the same way: they provide feedback to the employee on how they are doing in reference to a standard.

This can produce motivation in an employee. First, it communicates to the employee exactly, "where he stands," and secondly, it points to what type of coaching, counseling, or information the employee requires to get to "where he wants to go or sometimes must go."

Appraisal and feedback systems are ways to tell the employee that "she is on the right track." If not where they should be, this in itself often provides the motivation to self-correct and "get back on track."

Both of these programs are made even more powerful and hence motivating by the consequences attached to them. The result of a "favorable" performance appraisal can mean an increase in salary-a very definite motivator for some people. The result of an "unchanged" progressive discipline report can mean suspension or even separation of employment, a very definite motivator in the sense that employees will work to avoid the negative consequence.

Remember: Appraising employee performance through Employee Performance Review or Progressive Discipline and feeding back to them the results motivates by "pointing the employee in the right direction"

and "making clear how far they must go."

Motivation Worksheet 5 - (Take a few minutes to answer these questions.)

1) Think of an employee you manage who did not perform to your performance standards on a specific task.

2) What was the desired performance?

3) Describe the feedback you should give immediately upon completion of the task so the employee "gets back onto the right track".

4) How would you "point the employee in the right direction" by using an Employee Performance Appraisal or Progressive Discipline?

Motivating Work Assignments

Ideally, the work itself should be highly interesting and hence motivating to the employee. This is partly determined in the selection process where job candidate's skills and interests are assessed and compared to the requirements of the job. When delegating tasks be sure to consider the skill level of the parties involved, the needs of the job, etc. as well.

Even after a job candidate is hired, placement of the employee into a specific work assignment can foster or stifle motivation. For example, a stereo buff would be more highly motivated to sell stereos or other electronic products than draperies.

Employees can have different preferences in many ways:

o Some employees may prefer a large variety of different job duties whereas others may prefer only a small set number.

o Some employees like to face challenge and complexity within their job whereas others may prefer the simple or routine.

o Some employees may prefer to work independently, apart from others, whereas other employees prefer to work in an area with other employees.

o Some employees may prefer to work on tasks where they can receive instant feedback on their efforts, whereas others may not require such instantaneous and continuous feedback.

The point is that you can increase the motivation of your employees if you can match their need for different degrees of autonomy, variety, challenge, complexity, and feedback to the available work assignments. To the best that you can, tailoring the work assignments to the employee's primary needs and abilities, will result in a higher level of performance from that employee.

This is not to suggest that you should bend to every desire of an employee.

Meeting an employee's individual interests on the job will help that employee like their job more. They in turn, will be more willing and motivated to help the manager achieve bottom-line objectives. When both get what they respectively want, then a win/win situation exists. The manager wins because he will have a motivated, effective employee; the employee wins because his needs are met.

When an employee knows he is benefitting, he will be motivated to perform better. If an employee gets to do parts of his job that he likes to do, then the employee will be more willing to do those things that have to be done as well.

See what your employees would like to gain from their employment besides money. Ask, "What else does this employee want from his job here." Some answers might be:

o "A good recommendation for future jobs."

o "A chance to learn firsthand about the world of business before going to college and studying business."

o "An opportunity to learn skills like cashiering, customer service, selling, or management, etc."

o "A chance to get out of the house and be around people like other employees and customers."

o "To be aware of the latest market trends, fashions - wanting to be first to see what's new."

To meet people's interests and thus produce greater motivation, a certain amount of compromise and negotiation must take place between a manager and employee. It is difficult to balance the needs of an employee and those of a manager, who is trying to fulfill their company's bottom line performance, but compromise and negotiation gives the manager some control to accomplish both at once.

Motivation Worksheet 6 - (Take a few minutes to answer these questions.)

List the names of employees you manage under the type of work assignment which would motivate them to perform best.

Task Variety versus Set Types of Tasks

Challenge and Complexity versus Simple and Routine Tasks

Independent Tasks versus Working as part of a Group

Tasks which produce instant feedback versus Tasks which produce delayed

feedback.

Do the actual assignments of your employees regularly include the types of assignments most motivating to them?

Rewarding Good Performance

One major reward an employee obviously earns through their work performance is their paycheck. Financial compensation for doing a task is as old as the institution of gainful employment. There has been a development in recent years, however, of a new system of rewarding employees that affects their motivation to perform. This is the concept of paying for performance.

The idea behind paying for performance is simple. Most people, including managers, have the belief that if I do this, I deserve to get that. If I do twice as much, then I deserve to get more in return. What we receive, we say we have earned.

One of the most common examples of a pay for performance system is tipping. The waitress knows that her performance directly affects the tip she will receive. If she does a good job, she can be reasonably sure that she will receive a tip. She also knows that if she does an outstanding job she will merit a larger tip than if she just does the bare minimum.

The employee can feel that their work performance will be rewarded on the basis of merit due to the performance appraisal system. By their performance, they can affect their financial rewards. If they fail to meet their objectives, they won't be compensated as much as if they had met their objectives. If they work hard and exceed their objectives, they will be financially rewarded for the effort; and if they perform extremely well and clearly exceed the objectives, they will receive, or rather have EARNED, a proportionately large pay increase to reward their behavior.

Employee Performance Review is designed to measure performance against a standard so that the quantity and quality of job performance can be reliably determined. It serves as the vehicle for determining merit pay increases.

How To Make A Merit System Motivating

Employees must be aware of the system; that their work performance can earn them additional rewards. They must believe that it is realistically possible for them to earn the rewards. They must believe the system is fair; how much extra they earn needs to be worth the extra performance they "put out." As a result of informing employees of the connection between their job performance and available rewards, they:

o Develop a "winning" mental attitude.

o Set their own high performance goals.

o Increase their performance level.

In order to produce "highly motivated" employees, it is extremely important to pay attention and to actively play a part in influencing rewards for employee's performance. As manager, you have control over these consequences.

Although financial compensation is the primary reward, you are making a serious mistake if you believe that this is the only reward that is important to an employee. Money is not a dependable motivator. In fact, it is true that:

o For some individuals, money is not motivating.

o When employees have the inaccurate perception that only small merit increases are available, money loses its power to motivate.

o Money may motivate just before performance appraisal time, but it can also have no effect on performance the prior eleven months.

In contrast to money, all of the following rewards for performance are extremely dependable:

o Sense of Achievement Recognition of a "Job Well Done"

o Greater Responsibility

o Advancement/Promotion

o Increase Status in Eyes of Others

o Personal Growth

o Appreciation/Thanks by Manager

Any of these can be used in addition to money to reward performance. Each of these rewards can be delivered by you, the manager, in less than 30 seconds. And, they have the advantage over merit increase of being available every day. They cost you nothing-they give you a powerful tool to increase other's motivation.

All it takes is a statement like:

"Joe, you should feel really proud over obtaining a sales volume like you did this week." (Sense of Achievement)

"Sally, I noticed that you did an excellent job helping customers today, especially since you were covering more than one area." (Recognition of a Job Well Done)

"Bob, you have done so well with the routine duties, I think you're capable of handling some responsibilities of a larger nature. How would you feel about becoming responsible for .... ?" (Greater Responsibility)

"Lisa, even though your performance appraisal is more than 5 months away, I want to tell you that you're accomplishing so many things that I'm considering some type of promotion for you, if you keep this up." (Advancement/Promotion)

"I want to announce to everybody at this meeting that Tom has been doing an outstanding job and is a top-notch worker." (Increase Status in Eyes of Others)

"Jane, since you've started, you have really learned the relationship of mark-up to gross margin." (Personal Growth)

"Gary, I really appreciate you doing this. Thanks a lot." (Appreciation/Thanks by Manager)

Motivation of people will be seriously affected, if the consequences of performing is punishing or "makes no difference." When an employee who is working the best they can receives penalties, insults, humiliation, boredom, or frustration, he or she will begin to avoid doing the work and will quickly demonstrate "poor motivation." Few people seek out painful experiences. Thus, if you know that an employee is not working "up to par," explore whether the employee received a negative reaction for doing so. Ask yourself, "is there a negative consequence for doing a good job?"

Conclusion

Motivation is a complex issue. Rather than attempting to investigate motivation in its complexity, this basic management skill training reviewed six common motivational factors which make the difference between employees who are motivated and employees who exhibit motivational problems.

In reality, high levels of motivation are produced by a combination and interaction of these six factors, not by any one factor acting alone.

"Motivated employees" selected for the job will be easier to train; more receptive to communication and feedback; more interested in their work assignments; and more effective performers who will merit reward.

Employees "trained for success" will learn to communicate better; use feedback constructively; and perform their work assignments more efficiently which may increase their interest. All of this in turn, may result in a high level of performance that would merit reward.

Clear communication and goal setting goes hand-in-hand with the objective setting procedures of performance appraisal; aids the learning of new, more interesting, work assignments; and promotes goal attainment which is rewarded.

Appraisal and feedback can bring out the employee's feelings and interest in the work assignment and serve to reward behavior which merits reward.

Assigning "motivating work assignments" enables the employee to meet his interests and needs which will usually result in quality work that merits reward.

Motivated employees will work more effectively in their jobs and do more to further the bottom-line objectives of a company than unmotivated employees. There are six important and necessary factors that need to be considered in improving an employee's motivation to perform. By using the theory and recommendations presented in this article, you can be confident that you will be able to successfully motivate your employees. In addition, you will be incorporating a valuable skill into your managerial repertoire.

Remember, in order to motivate others, you must be Motivated yourself! Have fun, make a ripple...

Effective Motivational Skills For Today's Managers - Life Lessons

Chuck Ainsworth, aka The Origami Warrior is a visionary writer who enjoys learning new topics and putting them into easy to understand terms. He brings 30 plus years of Senior Management experience and provides the insights needed to help others reach peak performance by improving their basic Management and Leadership Skills. He currently writes about topics he loves that include: Origami, Origami Warrior Wisdom, Motivation, Training, Management Skills Development, Leadership, Life Lessons, Core Values, Internet Marketing, Social Media, Life After Death - How To Overcome Life Changing Events and more. A published author who loves family, pets, community. While he has spent much of his life traveling, he now enjoys a much simpler life, living in his home town on a small quiet private lake with his family. Follow his Origami Warrior Wisdom daily quotes follow me at http://twitter.com/ChuckAinsworth to get my tweets and be sure to check out other Life Lessons at: http://origamiwarrior.com