Motivational leadership

Motivational Leadership

While in one breath we can say that you can’t do anything to motivate another person, in the very next breath we can clearly say that you can certainly act in a way that strongly influences, inspires, excites, encourages and causes people to become invested in a situation in such a way that they will extend a great amount of effort with a joyful attitude. Likewise, we know we can’t change people, but we can definitely influence them. If we have a fair amount of skill, we can influence with great precision and move people in very specific directions by literally ‘giving them’ the correct perception and attitude. Strong leadership skills that are employed simultaneously can serve to move a group of people very distinctly towards a common goal or specific outcome that is performed with a very positive attitude.
One of the best and most effective ways to lead and motivate others is by learning how to identify and work with their natural ‘thinking styles’. You must first realize that everybody doesn’t think like you do. People are typically motivated by their values (what’s important to them), which are often different from yours also. What you find intriguing and compelling may not even be interesting to them. Flexibility and the ability to induce a state of cooperation are of the utmost importance in learning to influence and direct the behaviors of others.
Ways of thinking – thinking styles – are predefined or ‘preprogrammed’ ways of viewing and responding to others and to events going on around us. This is a natural ‘efficient’ function of the mind that serves to ‘streamline’ thinking in everyday situations so it doesn’t have to engage in what can be a lengthy processes of rational thinking. Naturally, the down side to this is that it’s largely habitual and runs ‘old patterns’ over and over, some of which are useful and appropriate . . . and some of which are not.
Thinking styles are a form of filter called ‘meta-programs’ that we all use naturally to form a consistent style that forms continuity in how we look at things in order to understand them or create meaning. Like most things in life, any skill or technique works best and prove immediately effective when we deal people as they are – not what we think they should be, or by imposing our thinking style on them assuming it’s the same. To gain a sense of clarity, let’s look at the basic formula of a meta-program:

Perceptions, thoughts and emotions:
It is very useful to understand the relationship that naturally exists between perceptions, thoughts and emotions. Perceptions are primarily memory based, and are formed by filtering current situations using previous experiences, beliefs, knowledge and values to recreate a present situation in a similar fashion or by using the same type of meaning as context. We then form thoughts of a similar nature. Our perceptions as structured thoughts, then attach to corresponding emotions. If we identify which filters people are using – we can anticipate how we will respond to what they say or do. We can then use our behavior in a specific way to stimulate desired behavior in them through our interaction.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D., CCHt., RMT – Is a professional Educator, Trainer, Mentor Consultant and Counselor. She specializes in Conscious Creation, Creativity, Business Psychology, Behavioral modification, Personal Transformation, Organizational Change, Communication and Leadership skills.
Linda@creativetransformations.com
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