Even the most dedicated employee will get tired and run out of steam at some point. The best entrepreneurs and leaders of all types know how to motivate their teams to push through the occasional exhaustion, listlessness or just plain distraction. I have seen all kinds of motivational approaches, and anyone who has led a team for more than an hour or two has tried a variety: cajoling, negotiating, yelling. But there is one approach that I think is the most powerful, and most sustainable. I try to avoid cheesy quotations, but I ran across this one a couple of years ago and think it summarizes the motivational technique I am referring to:
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.” – Antoine de Saint Exupéry
In other words, paint a vision for your employees – one that is compelling, challenging, and vivid. Then get out of the way.
