Motivation made America great
Motivation is essential to greatness. I recently heard the former CEO and Chairman of an American corporation say: "Intelligence is widely spread throughout our population; motivation is not."
- Question. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best, how would you rank the motivation of your company's employees? In all honesty, do you think that is the best the company can do? What needs to change?
The Revolutionary War
The CEO's statement made me think about how our country reached its greatness. The generations that built the infrastructure for American greatness didn't "have it easy." Starting with the revolutionary war, the majority of American citizens either lived in what today we would call poverty, or close to it. They had to work hard to make a living; they lived close to the edge with little or nothing in the way of comfort or savings. Yet, they didn't think of themselves as poor, but were motivated to build a better nation.- Question. Vision is a motivator that you have control over and can increase motivation. How would your employees define your company's vision? Where do you think your employees rank themselves in terms of motivation? On the same scale of 1 to 5, where would you rank the quality (in terms of its ability to inspire greater performance) of your company's vision? What can you do to increase the power of your company's vision and the motivation of your employees?
The Industrial Revolution
With the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, all throughout the 19th century, the general standard of living increased slowly but surely. Jobs, rather than laboring on farms and in fields, opened the possibility of a more stable income and the chance to live an urban life. Still, at that time, America was far from a prosperous nation. Nevertheless, most people didn't think of themselves as poor, but knew they were working their way toward their vision of a better life.- Question. Do your employees genuinely believe they are working their way toward their vision of a better life, or do they view their role as simply filling a job? Great leaders inspire their followers to aim higher, try harder, and improve constantly. How would you go about developing this type of leadership in your company?
The Great Depression
At the beginning of the 20th century, 50 percent of the population still lived in rural areas. The introduction of automobiles gave many, but not all, greater freedom and a broader scope of work and living options. Along came the Great Depression, and almost everyone was poor. Still, they didn't let being poor get in their way; on the contrary, they were motivated by the vision of an America where hard work created a better future.- Question. Are your employees demoralized by the current economic crisis? Are they losing confidence in the future of your company and our nation? What must you do to turn this emotional situation around? Assuming money is tight and you cannot raise salaries and bonuses, how would you go about raising their morale?
The Greatest Generation
Along came World War II; men went to war, women worked in factories, food and comfort were rationed, and the whole nation was in danger much of the time. Yet, Americans didn't see themselves as poor; they shared a common mission of defending this wonderful country. The Greatest Generation saved us from the horrors that destroyed so much of Europe and Asia, they then went on to build an industrial powerhouse that brought wealth to many, and higher living standards to almost all. All throughout the lifetimes of these generations, Americans had a vision of change and worked toward it. Subsequent generations enjoyed the legacy of freedom and wealth that the greatest generation had built; they didn't think they were poor - because they weren't. Actually, they felt deserving of their abundance and comfort. - Question. Do your employees feel they are entitled to their jobs regardless of performance? Do you currently have an objective and fair process for measuring performance? If so, do your employees view it as fair and helpful?
Lessons Learned of the Past
Some might call this attitude entitlement. An attitude of entitlement is a guaranteed destructor of motivation. If this lack of motivation becomes pervasive, then our nation will be at risk. In 1957, referring to the fate of the ancient Athenians, historian Edith Hamilton shared the following insight in The Lessons Learned of the Past: "In the end, more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security, a comfortable life, and they lost all - security, comfort, and freedom." The same statement applies to companies. -
Question. When preservation of the benefits of status quo takes precedence over building a better future, two things happen: status quo declines, and so do companies and nations. Have you considered that most people in organizations fall into one of two categories, SQPs (Status Quo Preservers) and BBs (Business Builders)? Do you know how many of each kind exist within your company? If you have more SPQs than BBs, your company's future is at risk.
"Without a vision the people are lost." (The Bible)
If our comfort and security become more important to us than everything else, including our freedom, we will inevitably lose everything. If we cannot imagine a better future, we will have no worthy goals. Without inspiring goals, we will lack the motivation to create and earn the greatness our ancestors envisioned and worked so hard to achieve. The role of a leader is to develop a powerful vision and constantly share it with all employees in ways that are both convincing and compelling.
- Question. "If you don't know where you are going, you won't get there." Does everyone at every level within your company know where you are taking the company? Do they care? Does your company share financial information with all employees? Sharing financial information helps people better understand management decisions and, most important, the act of sharing is a powerful form of recognition. Recognition is a strong motivator.
"We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are." (Max DuPree)
Defending the status quo is the sure path to oblivion because markets, society, life, nature, and the universe are in constant motion and do not tolerate inertia. The world is changing and, like it or not, we will be changed by it. We need to anticipate change and help make it happen. But without motivation, companies, people, and nations will go nowhere.
- Question. Do you have a sense of how things are changing, and how they will change your customers? Is this information regarding our changing business world a part of your strategic planning? Do you think your business will look the same in 5 years? Have you considered how the things that you are not changing will affect the future of your business? Remember Norman Cousins' famous statement: "Wisdom is the anticipation of consequences." What you don't change may have greater negative consequences than the positive effects of what you do change.
"When you bet against America, you are choosing long odds." (Garrison Keillor )
The change that America is undergoing right now will test our ability to be as great as our antecessors. But it will also help us regain our focus on the visions that made this country great. Like it or not, we are moving out of our comfort zone to where we will beat those long odds that pessimists so proudly exaggerate.
- Question. Can you say the same about your company? Are your short term management decisions actually bets against your company's future?
"A company without motivation is on the treadmill to oblivion." (MW)
To be successful, your company must envision itself as doing more than just generating a profit. Granted, the concept of profitability is essential to business survival, but it is not as powerfully motivating as a more inspiring cause such as knowing you are also helping build a better world. To make your company successful, you must inspire and motivate your people with the power of your vision, and link it to the realities and challenges of everyday business. Do this, and you will also generate greater profits.- Question. Has a lack of motivation already placed your company on a treadmill to oblivion? What are you going to do about it?
Motivating Greater Performance
As the World War II song says, "We did it before, and we can do it again." We have it within us to bring greatness to our nation, our world, and our businesses. All we have to do is open our minds to a vision of what we can do, believe in it, move a little more in that direction every day and, before we know it, we will have created a world that we can be proud of, a world that future generations will always give thanks for - just as we thank the generations that preceded us. - Question. Are you betting against the future of your business? Want to create a powerful vision for your business, and connect it to today's and tomorrow's challenges in practical ways that will inspire your employees to greater performance? Want to move beyond the status quo? Want to make the right decisions now that will ensure a brighter tomorrow? Want to manage in ways that will grow your business and increase your profits now and tomorrow? Contact me at (630) 420 2605, or mykwyn@aol.com and let's explore your company's avenues to greater success and profitability now and in the future.
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