How are you best motivated?  And/or as a leader…how do you motivate people/groups to be better?  Do you use bribery…money, time off or maybe even a promotion?  Or do you go the other route and try intimidation…threats or demotion/dismissal from the job??!!

I believe to be effective…really effective on the job and/or as a leader, you must know your own personal motivation “ignitors” and your style of motivating those you are responsible for.

Looking back my Dad utilized a Motivate With Challenges technique for getting my brothers and I to take on more responsibilities on the farm.  It would start with words like:

• “Kids your age aren’t ready to drive a tractor this big!”
• “Your cousins take care of more calves than 10…but you guys aren’t ready.”
• “Ma thinks it will take you 3 days to finish hoeing this field of beans…I said 2…but she is probably right.”

Over these early years the Motivate With Challenges occurrences were many and I can testify that we exceeded every expectation…every time!

Without a doubt during my career I have utilized the Motivate With Challenges approach personally and professionally…most of the time with a great deal of success.  Quiet, subtle but steady…this style of motivation is uniquely contagious.  It does not drive motivation via rewards or threats…rather the motivation comes more from within each person/persons being motivated.

Self-assess your motivation priorities and maybe start with your “roots”.