The author explores all aspects of motivation and inspiring people. This starts with understanding purpose and connecting people to that purpose and leaders doing that with passion. The book then goes onto to cover related topics such as align the organisation, create the story, show passion, make the time, and practice new habits of motivational leaders.
Motivate Like a CEO
To motivate like a CEO is to connect people with purpose and passion toward a common goal. To find ways to communicate and connect people to a larger purpose. Achieving a motivated workforce will have positive business benefits and consequently is an important component of business strategy. The author describes eight principles for motivating others through communication.
Motivating Others Through Communication
Those eight principles for motivating others through communication:
- It begins with you - your purpose and passion
- Communicate a clear, powerful mission
- Learn what motivates your people
- Make a personal connection with others
- Make the conversation about them
- Praise, recognise and reward
- Walk the talk
- Empower people
Leaders must see the big picture and using these principles will help to motivate others.
Motivate People
Leaders must understand their drivers and whilst recognising that other people will have different drivers they must make a connection to be able to motivate people. That connection will include ensuring that people understand the purpose and link the what and why. The author suggests a tool to help - GREAT:
- Grounded in fact
- Relevant to the audience
- Explanation makes sense
- Apparently, obviously logical
- Truth about the situation
Choice of language is also important and understanding the difference and use of logical and emotional terms that will appeal to different members of the audience.
Communication and Feedback
It is critical to communicate messages repeatedly and to seek feedback. Communication and feedback are central to the ability of a leader to connect to people and the people to the purpose. Results must be continually tracked and measured and the communication effort must be sustained over long periods of time. It is significantly de-motivating if there is some sudden blitz and then everything returns to its previous state with no apparent impact or change.
CEO Leadership
The author offers plenty of additional tips and advice for leaders such as creating accountability to drive results, using stories to connect to people or an audience, being on stage as well as everyday motivation. Importantly CEO leadership must sustain the momentum and make time for motivating people and develop a communication plan to see it through.
Motivate Like a CEO
The book is engaging and contains many anecdotes from CEOs and senior leaders. The style is easy to read and content rich with ideas and tips. Whilst there are some chapters that seem to be aimed at the CEO any leader at any level will be able to take many of these ideas and use them. It is well worth reading.
Motivate Like a CEO: Communicate Your Strategic Vision and Inspire People to Act by Suzanne Bates. McGraw Hill 2009. ISBN: 978-0-07-160029-3
Roger Lever - Early career was in Treasury Banking and this led to my interest in financial investment, especially the stockmarket. Enjoy reading widely ...
