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March 2007
Motivating Others: Encourage Them
Each of the previous nine columns presented a step to motivating
others: inspire confidence, demonstrate enthusiasm, ask “what’s in it for
others,” delegate responsibly, help people learn from their mistakes,
listen effectively, communicate openly, give helpful feedback and lead the
way. The tenth and final step is to encourage them. Encouragement is a
great motivator; discouragement is a de-motivator.
An author admiring photographs taken by a professional photographer
commented, You must have a great camera,” to which the photographer
replied, “You must have a great typewriter.” The author was no doubt
trying to encourage the photographer, but his choice of words was not
encouraging. The prefix “en” means “in.” We literally put courage in
others when we encourage them. We take courage away when we discourage
them.Someone said for every discouraging word we hear we need ten
encouraging ones to offset it. But if someone says one discouraging word
and ten encouraging ones, which one are we most likely to remember. I dare
say, most of us remember the discouraging one.
My August 2004 column asked the question: “Are you
an Encourager—or Criticizer?” It’s worth re-reading. Since encouragement
is one of the greatest tools for motivation, each of us needs to be an
encourager. |
John Kline
Montgomery, Alabama
john@klinespeak.com
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March 2007 - Motivating Others: Encourage Them
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