Motivation Is Not In My Job Description
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July 29, 2012

Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The ones who WIN get inside their players and motivate.  -Vince Lombardi

In your mind, what separates a manager from a leader?  While perusing on Facebook the other day, I came across a post from a friend of mine that stuck with me.  In their update, they outlined the differences between a Boss and a Leader…how perfect!  So, before you read any further, take a piece of paper and on the left side, write what makes someone a boss and on the right side, write what makes someone a leader.  I have re-posted the Facebook post below:

BOSS  
•          Drives Employees
•          Depends On Authority
•          Inspires Fear
•          Says, “I”
•          Places Blame
•          Knows How It Is Done
•          Uses People
•          Takes Credit
•          Commands
•          Says, “Go”

LEADER
•          Coaches Employees
•          Depends On Goodwill
•          Generates Enthusiasm
•          Says, “We”
•          Takes Accountability
•          Shows How The Work Is Done
•          Develops People
•          Gives Credit
•          Asks
•          Says, “Let’s Go”

Now, compare your list to the one above and ask yourself…”Which of these attributes describes me, and where do I fall on this list with my peers and direct reports?”  Regardless if you are a manager or sales rep, you still have the opportunity to step up to the plate and lead your peers and your team.  Great leaders are not always the best at the specific task at hand, but regardless of their skill and the circumstances they are placed in, they find a way to inspire their team to succeed. 

Great examples of this drive to motivate and win can be seen every day.  Even those of us with little to no knowledge of sports know the name Tim Tebow.  While everyone has a different opinion of the man, one thing is for certain, he is far from a prototype quarterback in both size and skill.  Even with these set backs, he still finds a way to motivate his team to be successful and to win.  He’s not the manager, and for most of his career, he hasn’t been a starter either, but yet, people still listen and follow his lead.  How are you accomplishing the same with your team?

While people believe that being a leader is inherent to an individual, I believe that we all have the ability to motivate and guide our teams to success.  Each morning before you go into work, ask yourself, “What can I do to help my team succeed today?” Do this for 30 days, and I’m confident you will be happy with the results.

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