Motivation is essential if anything is to get done, but trying to motivate a family can be one of the most difficult and frustrating issues for parents. Where most go wrong is in assuming that everyone is motivated by the same things, and usually that assumption is based on what the parent finds motivating.
While it can be all too easy to see a family or team as a single entity, it is of course made up of individuals of different ages and genders who come from different backgrounds and are at different stages in their maturity and whose personalities, experiences, circumstances, priorities and goals are all entirely unique. Each one is driven by a different set of factors, but often the family members themselves don’t know what motivates them. If a parent wants to be a successful motivator, therefore, it is up to him or her to learn what works for each individual specifically, and if that sounds like a tall order, then it is worth bearing in mind just how much more productive motivated family members are and just how much added value they bring.
Look at the evidence, note when individual family members seem all fired up and what it was that made them feel that way, and then use this information to replicate those attitudes. Above all though, never resort to fear as a motivator – it might work in the short term, but it is guaranteed to break down trust eventually.
Article, initially written about managers motivating employees, first appeared in April, 2011 issue of Family Times. Published by Play-a-Round Golf.
