OTHER PAGE

What Motivates YOU?

People are motivated by all kinds of things, some crazy, some understandable, and some just downright weird. For our purposes I've compiled a list (along with my good friend Bill Doerr) of the "usual" things that motivate people in business. Use this exercise first to understand your motivators. If you have other motivators, add them to the list, then use the list to encourage the people that work with you to share what motivates them.

I've just returned from the North American Conference on Customer Management. It was great studying with the most successful practitioners of customer experience management, I've learned from gurus - like Fred Reichheld, author of the "Loyalty Effect" (my hero!). And Colin Powell, sharing anecdotes and teaching simple lessons of leadership was awe inspiring. I had the opportunity to deliver my newest workshop "Power Up Performance - Linking Employee Happiness to Customer Happiness." I was so excited to have the opportunity to share my newest learnings as a happiness coach. As always, as soon as I get to go through my notes, I'll share with you my favorite "keepers" from the show.

One of the handouts I used is the same as the one I promised you in the last tip. It's an exercise I do to help people understand what motivates them and others. The list is by no means exhaustive. People are motivated by all kinds of things, some crazy, some understandable and some just downright weird. For our purposes I've compiled a list (along with my good friend Bill Doerr*) of the "usual" things that motivate people in business.

You'll remember that in the last tip we talked about two kinds of motivation intrinsic and extrinsic. As the words would suggest - intrinsic motivation comes from inside of you (your desire to do something) and extrinsic from outside of you. (Another's desire for you to do something.) Both are represented on this list.

Use this exercise first to understand your motivators. If you have other motivators, add them to the list (and feel free to let me know what they are!), then use the list to encourage the people that work with you to share what motivates them. Have fun.

Some Common Motivators:

Independence - Freedom to run my own activities as I wish; to be free of the restrictions imposed on my business methods by the person I report to; the opportunity to do my own thing.
Recognition - Tangible and intangible rewards for doing my work well; being noticed for doing a good job; being recognized by my boss/peers/others for a job well done.
Leisure time - Having non-business time off to enjoy as I please.
Internal Power - The sense of control I feel over my own activities and destiny.
External Power - The sense of influence I have over the behavior or destiny of others.
Prestige - The respect accorded to me by others in our company and in the business community. How others feel that I "rate" among others they know and respect.
Money - Personal financial income provided by my work.
Achievement - The feeling that I get from successfully accomplishing my work; the feeling of having done a job well; overcoming obstacles and attaining a high standard.
Self-esteem - My own feeling of self-worth; the respect I accord myself; feeling good about who I am and what I am doing.
Family life - The amount and quality of activities that I engage in with my family.
Security - The certainty that I feel of maintaining my position; the extent to which I feel that my position tomorrow will be at least as good as it is today.
Personal Growth - The feeling of growing as an individual, becoming more competent, broadening and deepening myself as a person.
Professional Challenge - Knowing my work will continue to stretch and challenge me. The need I have to show continuing improvement in the performance of my work.
Collaboration - The opportunity to work with and learn from others in a team environment. The give and take of team play.
Contribution - The opportunity to make a significant difference through my work.
Creativity - The ability to express myself and my uniqueness through my work.

This is my list. They are many more things and experiences that motivate people, like fun, laughter, watching others succeed, passion, making a difference (some that my workshop participants shared on Sunday). Feel free to add yours to my list, and let me know what they are - I'd like the most complete list I can have. Please email them to me at joannabrandi@customercarecoach.com with "What motivates me" in the subject line.

Have fun discovering!

JoAnna Brandi

JoAnna Brandi is Publisher of the Customer Care Coach® a weekly training program on mastering "The Art and Science of Exquisite Customer Care." She is the author of books such as "Winning at Customer Retention - 101 Ways to Keep 'em Happy, Keep 'em Loyal, and Keep 'em Coming Back" and "Building Customer Loyalty - 21 Essential Elements in ACTION."

A Speaker and consultant, she is publisher of the bi-weekly Customer Care Tips Bulletin. To receive her free bi-weekly tips bulletin, sign up at www.returnonhappiness.com. You can also reach JoAnna at 561-279-0027 or e-mail joanna@customercarecoach.com.