As a trainer I am constantly amazed by the people who attend our training courses. You can tell the ones who truly wanted to be there, they're the ones listening eagerly, writing down notes and asking the questions. The ones who didn't want to be there - are the ones who sit with stony faces, arms folded with body language that says "I am not going to learn anything new today, I don't know why I'm here" "I've heard it all before" "Tried it, it didn't work" kind of people.

You know the type of person i'm talking about. The manager has "told" them they have a problem and they need to go on a course to "fix" it. Of course it may not have been said in quite those terms, but the manager and the employee both know that's what it means.

So how can you persuade the people you work with, live with or share space with that they have a problem and get them to admit they do? Well it isn't easy. But you may be able to do it - by looking at their problem from their point of view. We all want to know "what's in it for me" - it's also interesting that the subject most people like to talk about is themselves. So put yourself in their shoes, and suggest that if "it were me" I'd consider x, y and z MAY help. Once you get to that point, and they agree with you - you are almost there. Then it's a case of "wonder what training is available?" "Wonder if they do a discount if we can send a couple of people?"

If you are willing to look at a situation from someone elses point of view rather than your own - you will begin to get buy in from the people you are responsible for.

How do you motivate your employees?

1. You can't. If you haven't realised it by now - if you cannot motivate yourself, how on earth are you going to motivate other people? As long as you are enthusiastically going in the right direction, people will want to join you. Of course if they don't "want" to, then little you do or say will help. What happens then is the resolve of line managers and the HR department to come to an agreement on any course of action you need to take.

2. Employee of the month. Employers use all sorts of tactics and tricks to motivate employees, including the embarrasing pictures of "employee of the month" hanging on the wall in the lobby. Have you noticed that sometimes those pictures don't change for months on end. What sort of "motivation" does that signal to the employees?

3. Incentive schemes. Do not reward people for doing the job they were employed to do. Limit rewards for behaviour and actions over and above their normal duties.  However, you should also be consistent. Don't start something you are not willing to continue for the long run, as this introduces resentment. Beware also, some employees "expect" bonuses and gifts, and if those gifts do not meet expectations then that too can be met with resentment.

4. Team building days. Employers also try "firing up" their employees by hiring motivational speakers, or doing some kind of team building activities, both of which have little or no long term lasting effect. Motivating others is impossible if the people do not want to be motivated. If they are doing a job they hate, with people they dislike they are not likely to bond with these same people on a raft in the middle of a river now are they?

So what can you do?

Well you could lead by example:

1. Fire people up with your enthusiasm: If you have a job you enjoy doing you are more likely to fire other people up with your enthusiasm than any other way that I know. But make sure everyone is excited about the best thing!

On the other side - if you have a job you hate. Before you get a new one, ask yourself a simple question - is your attitude towards your job the problem? Or is it the job? If it's your attitude it doesn't matter where you work, you'll always hate what you do. You could be earning thousands a week and still be miserable. So check the attitude factor before you chuck in the job.

Oh and -

Don't take your personal problems to work, don't snap at people and then try and be nice when you want something - guess what - it doesn't work.

MMO1