The best motivator
🌱 Learn the psychology. Master influence in the Bring DiSC to Life! Community. 🌱
Most leaders try to motivate with power over.
"Because it's the policy." "Leadership decided." "Because I said so."
Think about the last time someone used one of those phrases on you. Now think about when someone got you to feel proud for doing the right thing. Which created resentment and which inspired?
Berkshire Hathaway’s Charlie Munger once said that the most powerful motivator is enhanced self-esteem.
When people connect their identity and self-worth to a behavior, they don't just repeat it—they protect it.
They begin to see themselves as the kind of person who collaborates, serves customers well, solves problems, or helps teammates succeed.
Self esteem is second from the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Once our basic needs for food, safety, and belonging are met, we naturally seek esteem—respect, recognition, confidence, accomplishment, and the feeling that what we do matters.
Enhanced self-esteem is a narcotic.
And the greatest of leaders leverage it, not by asking "How do I get people to do what I want?" but by asking, "How do I help people feel good about becoming the kind of person who does this on their own?"
They…
Celebrate the teammate who stepped in to help a coworker.
Recognize the manager who had a difficult conversation with courage and respect.
Point out the employee whose preparation prevented a problem before it happened.
So, don't just praise the result. Reinforce the identity:
"That's exactly the kind of leader you are becoming."
"People can count on you."
"You set the standard for this team."
People will work for a paycheck. They'll work harder for recognition. And they'll do their best work when they can look in the mirror and genuinely like the person they're becoming.
✅ Put the 2 Minute Tip into action…Become More Influential & Build A Culture Of Open Communication in our supportive online community ✅
