Some leaders are better at motivating their teams than others. Here’s what it takes. Everyone should know a thing or two about how to inspire and motivate others. It’s an important skill that helps us not only take on leadership challenges but engage better with new people, build new relationships, and perform to the best of our potential. The first step in motivating people is to stop treating them just as employees, managers, CEOs, etc. — we’re more than the titles on our business cards! — and start treating others as humans. Sounds simple, but it isn’t all that easy in every situation. THEY COMMUNICATE OPENLY AND OFTEN When we communicate with others, we have to be clear about what we want. There’s no way to start working towards a common goal until everyone understands what it is and what’s expected of them to help achieve it. Motivational leaders should be approachable and open to dialogue so that everyone they’re trying to motivate can ask questions and share their own ideas. That isn’t shirking the duties of leadership — it’s what helps people connect with your leadership at a personal and emotional level. “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter — ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” — Mark Twain “Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people.” — William Butler Yeats “Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy, and mutual valuing.” — Rollo May This communication style means not just clearly articulating your message, but also listening actively — without bias or judgment and with a real willingness to consider a different perspective. It’s about trading messages respectfully and accurately, not just delivering them. Paying heed to their factual as well as emotional content is what allows for better mutual understanding. Say for instance that an employee has just taken on a big new assignment when he already feels he has too much on his plate. When there’s open communication, he can feel comfortable approaching his manager about his concerns and ask for guidance. His manager, who’s listening actively, will hear that he’s genuinely concerned about being able to deliver at a high level and on time. She’ll be able to create an empathetic environment where the two of them are equally committed to finding the right solution, whatever it might be. THEY OFFER POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT Motivational leaders know how to create a sense of self-worth in their teams by making them feel good about the work they do. Offering well-placed praise is one way to let people know that you appreciate their efforts and acknowledge their progress. Those who are recognized and rewarded feel more confident, which helps them go above and beyond with each new challenge. Recognition also makes people more enthusiastic, cooperative, innovative, and open to change. “People thrive on positive reinforcement. They can take only a certain amount of criticism, and you may lose them altogether if you criticize them in a personal way . . . you can make a point without being personal. Don’t insult or belittle your people. Instead of getting more out of them you will get less.” — Bill Walsh “When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, youdon’t blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is notdoing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, orless sun. You never blame the lettuce.” — Thich Nhat Hanh “The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount.” — B. F. Skinner Despite all the wisdom out there, positive reinforcement is harder to find than you may think. In his book , author Bob Nelson contends that the top two drivers of employee performance are being able to say, “I am able to make a difference at work” and “I have been recognized recently for what I do.” In Nelson’s research, money ranks a distant fifth place. Sadly, over 68% of the workers Nelson interviewed had never received even a simple thank-you. 1,001 Ways to Reward Employees Nelson also found that while employees rank positive feedback from their boss as their top motivator, supervisors don’t always believe positive reinforcement matters as much as it does. Leaders who truly inspire others understand its real worth. THEY WALK THE WALK Effective leaders set an example that others feel motivated to follow. Simply telling people what you expect of them or want them to do only goes so far. Being a compelling role model is the surest way to gain commitment from others — by personally demonstrating what you want from your team, not just dictating instructions. “Nothing so conclusively proves a man’s ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself.” — Thomas J. Watson “[The Master] doesn’t glitter like a jewel . . . [but is] as rugged and common as a stone.” — Lao Tzu “An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.” — Mahatma Gandhi Alan Deutschman, writing for Bloomburg Businessweek, these real-world examples of leaders who lead by example: recounts “In the early 1960s, when Warren Buffett was recruiting backers for one of his first investment partnerships, he plunged more than 90% of his personal savings into the fund . . . Whenever Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton traveled on business, he rented the same compact economy cars and stayed in the same inexpensive hotels as his employees . . . Ray Kroc picked up the wastepaper in the parking lot whenever he visited a McDonald’s to show cleanliness was a continual job for everyone — even the CEO.” The point is that knowing how to motivate and inspire other people is the key to connect with them. Without that connection, there’s no working together towards a common goal. And a leader who tries to do everything alone isn’t much of a leader at all. Copyright © 2017 by Faisal Hoque. All rights reserved. Originally published @FastCompany . I am an . Founder of and other companies. Shadoka enables aspirations to lead, innovate, and transform. Shadoka’s accelerators and solutions bring together the management frameworks, digital platforms, and thought leadership to enable innovation, transformation, entrepreneurship, growth and social impact. entrepreneur and author SHADOKA Author of “ ” (McGraw Hill) and “ ” (Motivational Press). Follow me on Twitter . 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