Is Motivation Really the Problem?

Business Leaders are often looking for new and innovative ways to motivate their team members. In our recent Coaching Gold Podcast, Small Business Coach Erin Myers joined us for a discussion on motivation and how working with a coach can help leaders create environments that support employees in finding motivation and drive business success.

Understanding Motivation

Process over motivation.

The first point that Erin emphasized during the podcast is that motivating others is something that leaders spend too much time thinking about and not enough time doing. There is a myth that motivation is to be found before engaging in an activity. The reality is that the act of doing a task is motivation in itself. Psychology today explains that "motivation is the desire to act in service of a goal". Instead of trying to determine how you are going to get your employees excited about doing a task, leaders should focus on

1. Defining what needs to be accomplished.

2. Who is best capable of doing tasks?

3. What support is needed for successful task completion?

What needs to be accomplished?

One of the biggest derailers to motivation is a lack of clarity. Unclear tasks present four primary problems.

1. Unclear objectives and desired outcomes can make it challenging to pick the right employee to do the tasks. 

2. Lack of clarity on how you want tasks to be completed can be the cause of delays, overspends, and other inefficiencies.

3. Poorly defined goals can create anxiety for employees because they are unsure of your expectations.

4. Solutions can be over-engineered when the scope and key requirements are not defined.

Taking time to clarify objectives can help you pick the right person for the job, and ensure that that person understands what they are being asked to do.

Assign tasks based on Team Goals.

Once you have defined the business objective and desired outcome, it is time to determine who should be responsible for the task. With the Power6 Leader model, we teach leaders to use the ACES framework, which is a standard for assessing who should do the tasks based on the greater good of the team, communicating your expectations, empowering the employee to do the work, and supporting them along the way.

 When assessing who to assign tasks to, we encourage you to understand employees' strengths, competencies, and frustrations. The Working Genius Assessment can be a helpful tool as you strive to understand better what type of work your employees find motivating. Both Dorian and Erin use this tool to help leaders better understand their employees and how realigning roles and responsibilities can unlock greater productivity.

Employee motivation sours when employees spend more time working within their strengths. The increased motivation comes from their needs being fulfilled. Humans desire safety, community, recognition, and purpose. When you can design and assign work to employees that allows them to meet their financial objectives while also fulfilling other needs, you tap into the full potential of your employees.

Providing Support

After you have defined the objective and expected outcome and delegated the task to an employee, it is vital to remember to provide ongoing support to your employees. Support is going to look different based on the employee's experience and competency. Experienced employees may only need guidance and occasional check-ins. New employees may require training and ongoing counseling. Partnering with the employee to define the type and frequency of support they need can create trust, support effective communication, and improve the odds of the employees delivering on expectations.

How Coaching can help.

In 2022, the International Coaching Federation surveyed over 10,000 people and asked them about their primary reason for participating in coaching. 37% stated improving communication skills as the primary reason they sought coaching. Motivating employees comes down to communication first, because listening to employees, understanding their strengths, passions, skills, and experience is vital to putting them in a position where they are doing work that is intrinsically motivating for them. Second, your ability to effectively communicate what needs to be done, why it is essential, how you want it done, and by when can provide the extrinsic motivation employees need to support them in doing a task. Getting work done is all about combining an employee's internal motivation with your direction, support, and guidance (communication) to complete the task.

If you are interested in learning more about Erin Myers and her coaching program, you can find her on LinkedIn. To learn more about Your Path Coaching and Consulting, visit our website at www.yourpathexecutivesolutions.com or schedule a free consultation using this link.https://yourpathcoachingandconsulting.hbportal.co/schedule/635fe8e75275fb003103425c

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Are You Feeling Disconnected? An Executive Coach Can Help You Get Back on Track

It's easy to feel like you're just running on a treadmill, moving from one task to the next without a clear sense of purpose. You might be a highly ambitious professional, a community leader, or even a successful business owner, but still feel like you've hit a wall. You're no longer as fulfilled as you once were, and the impact you want to make feels just out of reach.

The Cost of Disconnection

Research shows that chronic feelings of disconnection can negatively impact both physical and mental well-being, leading to increased stress and burnout among professionals. Feeling disconnected isn't just a personal feeling; it's a significant issue in the modern workplace.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many successful professionals reach a point where they need to change their mindset to evolve as a leader and achieve the next level of success. This is where an executive coach comes in.

Overcoming the "Shoulds" and Getting Unstuck

We often get caught up in the "shoulds".What we believe society, our company culture, or our boss expects of us. Focusing on should can cause us to lose sight of our authentic self and our core values. We make decisions based on what we think is expected, not on what truly aligns with who we are.

An executive coach helps you break free from these patterns. Through a process of thoughtful, open-ended questions, a coach helps you:

• Gain Clarity: Understand the habits and beliefs that may be holding you back.

• Tap into Your Values: Reconnect with your core values and learn to lead from a place of authenticity.

• Build Self-Awareness: Identify the "shoulds" and other external pressures that are getting in your way.

By creating this space for self-reflection, a coach empowers you to discover that the answers you need are already within you. They don't give you a blueprint; they help you build your own.

The Benefits of a Coach: Finding Purpose from Being More Aware

Working with an executive coach can unlock several powerful benefits, transforming not only your career but your life. A coach helps you shift your mindset from a reactive approach to a proactive one. Instead of just reacting to the pressures of the moment, you learn to be more intentional. During a recent Coaching Gold podcast, executive coach Marisa Thomsas shared that coaching can help you: 

• Practicing Mindfulness: Taking time away from your busy schedule to disconnect and create space for yourself. Your cup should only ever be three-quarters full. This leaves space for the unexpected, provides an opportunity for rest, and allows you to dedicate time to things that bring joy and renew you.

• Checking Your Ego: Great leaders don't need to be the ones with all the answers. A coach helps you recognize when ego is driving your decisions, so you can instead focus on creating an environment where all voices are heard and valued. Working on being vulnerable leads to better, more resilient outcomes for your whole team.

Ultimately, an executive coach helps you live your best life, however you define it. They help you find your values, purpose, and goals, so that you can chart your path to success. This process transforms your thinking, allowing you to evolve as a person and leader, and to become the leader you desire to be.

Ready to Get Back on Your Path?

If you're ready to stop feeling stuck and start creating positive change, we're here to help.

• Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your unique goals and how we can help you get back on a path that feels right for you.

• Visit our website to learn more about our services.

• Or visit DoorS Effect to learn more about Marisa Thomas and her coaching services

#executivecoach #businessconsultant #personaldevelopment #careerdevelopment #businesssuccess

From Checklist to Clarity: How Coaching Can Transform Your Work and Life

Do you feel like your life is a never-ending to-do list? Are you a high-achiever who's constantly grinding, yet still feel like you're falling behind? If so, you're not alone. On a recent episode of the Coaching Gold podcast, guest Brittany Brown, a Power6 Leader coach, shared her journey and insights on moving from a life of checklists to one of true clarity. This isn't about working harder; it's about working with intention and empowering yourself to thrive.

Redefining Productivity Beyond the Checklist

Many of us are stuck in a cycle where we overperform in environments that reward burnout. We chase promotions and accolades, only to find ourselves exhausted with no time for what truly matters. Brittany's unique program, Recharge and Thrive, offers a new blueprint for success. The goal is not just to rearrange your to-do list, but to reclaim the urgency that dictates your life. Coaching, in this context, becomes a powerful tool for discovering that you already have the solutions to your problems. You just need to strip away some of the beliefs and thoughts that are leading to your stress, anxiety, and overwhelm.

The Power of "Quiet Transformations"

The most significant changes in life aren't always loud or dramatic. As Brittany points out, they're often "quiet transformations." She shares compelling examples of these shifts, from leaders learning to trust their teams and delegate, to professionals scheduling a 15-minute mental health break and realizing the world doesn't fall apart.

These small, intentional actions build confidence and create habits that help to renew our energy so we can accomplish big goals. Like Brittany's client, who was afraid to step away from her computer for fear that she might miss something urgent, the stories we tell ourselves can be the root of our burnout. Challenging your current assumptions can be the first step into redefining a better career for yourself.

Your Path to Clarity: What You Can Do Now

Gaining clarity starts with a few intentional steps. The first is to get honest with yourself about your current habits and how they make you feel. Then, consider taking action with one or more of the following:

• Set and Protect Your Goals: Treat your personal and professional goals like an unmovable meeting with a CEO. Schedule dedicated time on your calendar to work on them and be vocal about the support you need from your team or family to make it happen. This simple act of protection reinforces their importance.

• Connect with Your Body: When you look at your to-do list, pay attention to how your body reacts. Do you feel a sense of dread or excitement? Tuning into these physical cues can reveal what truly energizes you versus what drains you.

• Be Open to Experimentation: You don't have to have all the answers. The path to clarity is often about being open to exploring new ideas and trying different things. As Brittany notes, "the openness to explore different things" is the first thing clients get right. This willingness to experiment gives you the feedback you need to move forward.

These aren't just tips; they are the building blocks of a career led with intention, not just urgency.

Want to hear more of Brittany's insights and be inspired by the full conversation? You can find the full episode of the Coaching Gold podcast on Spotify and YouTube. You can also connect with Brittany on LinkedIn by searching "Brittany J Brown" and explore her services at boldambassador.com.

If you're ready to move from your checklist to a life of clarity, it's time to start the conversation.

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