Having Trouble Motivating Others? Try WIIFM

Recently my fourteen-year old son Matt dressed up as Santa Claus and attended a Christmas caroling event for one of my professional organizations. Was my son excited about the idea of spending one of his evenings singing to seniors instead of being with his friends? Not really. Then how did I get Matt to agree so readily to come to the event and play Santa? It was easy; I told him that after we finish caroling we all go back to our host facility and enjoy delicious food. That was enough for Matt. He heard the word food and was ready and willing to go. I could have tried to motivate Matt by telling him what a wonderful thing he would be doing by making so many people happy.

While Matt is a caring teenager, that argument would not have been enough to get him to go. However, tell a teenage boy that there will be good food where you are going and you can get him to do almost anything. I motivated my son to participate in this activity by considering his WIIFM or What's In It For Me

During my workshops, managers and leaders often complain that many of the people in their groups are 'just not motivated.' This is not a true statement. Everyone is motivated by something. The trick is to find out what motivates an individual and demonstrate how he/she will gain that outcome by doing what you suggest. Find out his/her WIIFM. It is very difficult to lead people to move forward in thought or deed unless you connect it with what is important to them. People accept new ideas or take action only when they can see how they will benefit from what you are saying. To be persuasive, you must convince them of the benefits they will gain by adopting your ideas or doing what you recommend.

One of the big mistakes people make is to think that others are motivated by the same things that motivate us. This is rarely true. If we try to persuade others by what motivates us, our words will fall on deaf ears. We must find out what is important to the individual and then we will find they are all ears. Aristotle said, "The fool tells me his reason; the wise man persuades me with my own."

We might not always agree with what is important to another person, however, there should be no judgment placed on someone's motivation. People have a right to their own opinions. We need to take the time to discover what is important to the individual and then link it to where we want that person to go. A word of caution ? when you are operating at the level of motivation, you are dealing with a person's closely held values. We must be sure this is a win-win situation for everyone concerned.

So the next time you have trouble motivating people, try to see it from their point of view. How can they benefit from what you want them to do? When you use WIIFM you will find that it is very easy and even enjoyable to motivate others because you are helping them get what they want while simultaneously accomplishing your own objectives. As for my son, he is already planning to attend this year's caroling event because he wants to partake of that wonderful food.

About The Author

Della Menechella is a speaker, author, and trainer who inspires people to achieve greater success from the inside out. She is a contributing author to Thriving in the Midst of Change and the author of the videotape The Twelve Commandments of Goal Setting. She can be reached at della@dellamenechella.com. Subscribe to free Peak Performance Pointers e-zine - send blank e-mail to della@dellamenechella.com.

Brookfield limo Midway .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
In The News:

Creating an email alias can help clean up your inbox by organizing emails based on purpose, like creating different aliases for shopping, newsletters and work.
A multipurpose robotic system promises to transform how items are stacked onto pallets, aiming to maximize space utilization and reduce shipping costs.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
The number of people affected by a UnitedHealth data breach in February 2024 was actually higher than previously reported and was the largest medical data breach in U.S. history.
A phishing campaign uses Google Calendar to schedule fake meeting invitations that appear legitimate, redirecting targets to phishing sites.
Toll road text scam: Fake messages claim unpaid fees, seek payment via fraudulent links. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says this scam is becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says these steps ensure that your friends and family get to the exact moment you want them to see. Try it out and streamline your sharing experience.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers tips on how to protect your identity: Be vigilant, monitor accounts, use smart security, know theft response.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says cybercriminals are exploiting iMessage phishing protection, tricking users to reactivate links.
It's hard to imagine life without in-flight Wi-Fi these days – but sky-high web surfing comes with its own set of privacy concerns. Here's how to protect yourself.
Over 400,000 cases of credit card fraud were reported in 2024 to the Federal Trade Commission. The CyberGuy explains how to protect against becoming another victim.
A nondescript metal box transforms into a fully functional electric motorcycle that blurs the line between vehicle and urban infrastructure.
Many apps unrelated to location still ask users for tracking permission, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit seeking to end this alleged practice by Allstate.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Melody, the artificial intelligence-powered robot, is life-sized and represents a move toward creating robots that resemble people in appearance and interaction.
Here are five easy smartphone rules from the National Security Agency that you can follow to better protect your mobile device from hackers and scammers.
A U.S. robotics company has developed "Jennie," a robotic pet powered by artificial intelligence that's designed to comfort those facing mental health challenges.
Healthcare records for more than 184 million Americans were breached in 2024, but you can take steps to minimize that risk. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.
The Skyrider X1 from Rictor claims to be the "first amphibious flying passenger motorcycle," and it combines land and air travel in one sleek design.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Home inventory and restoration apps help itemize and track every item in your home in the event you have to make an insurance claim after a natural disaster.
The White House launched a new cybersecurity safety label, the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, intended to help consumers make informed decisions on smart device safety.
Today's tech can help make life so much easier — if you know how to use it. Here are a few tips on the quickest and best ways to make your phone, laptop and other devices work for you.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers Windows 11 restart fixes: Update drivers, run system scans and check hardware.
Sony and Honda's Afeela 1 EV launches with advanced tech and entertainment for $89,900. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives his takeaways.

Leadership ? Do The Simple But Important Things

Why do we human beings complicate things? Is it that... Read More

Go On, Be A Tiger

From the moment he putted with Bob Hope on the... Read More

In 2005 Collaboration is Key

Perhaps you're a small business owner wondering how you and... Read More

Nine Ways to Contribute to Project Team Success

The world of work has changed. It used to be... Read More

The Team Process

We live in very progressive times, one only has to... Read More

The Top 7 Things Entrepreneurs Need to Know About Employees

As I work with clients to strengthen their teams and... Read More

Why It Pays to Out More Humor in the Workplace

1. Humor reduces stress levels and stress is the number... Read More

How to Turn Idea Squashers into Possibilities

Managing a small business continues to become more challenging. However,... Read More

Do You Want to Get Others to Improve Their Performance? Then Expect the Best

Recently I decided to stretch my athletic abilities and add... Read More

Designing and Deploying Human Centric Processes

A lot of effort has been carried out in the... Read More

How Leaders Unlock Potential in Teams

Leaders are faced with unlocking the potential in the people... Read More

Feedback - Confirming the Good News

The feedback I'm talking about here isn't some sort of... Read More

Team Building Part 2: Honesty is the Key!

The second in a series of 2 articles giving a... Read More

Marche, or How Teams Work.

On the trail in Northern Canada "Marche" was the word... Read More

Leadership Quality Through Kindness

In days past, loyalty was a given. The worker in... Read More

4 Tips for Keeping a Team Motivated

Companies often have incentives for reps, but sometimes that isn't... Read More

Aligning Corporate Teams

Picture yourself entering a corporate meeting, team meeting, or business... Read More

Whats Your REAL problem??

When was the last time you spent excessive time and... Read More

Resolving Workplace Conflict: 4 Ways to a Win-Win Solution

The effects of conflict in the workplace are widespread and... Read More

A Team That Gleamed

Too many techies get a bad rap for lacking teamwork... Read More

Employee and Coworkers Gifts

Giving gifts to your co-workers or your employees can be... Read More

7 Key Dimensions of High Performance Teams

7 Key Dimensions of High Performance Teams We can always... Read More

Beyond Brainstorming ? Large Groups

When leaders, consultants and managers require ideas, they automatically tend... Read More

Teamwork in the Workplace: A Definition

A tight knit team is a group of competent individuals... Read More

Story Telling With a Purpose

For a brief time, I tried to sell life insurance.... Read More

Medinah cheap limo ..