Dr Richard Norris, MBA

Do you, your team or organization need to overcome obstacles and deliver results?

Perhaps, you are having issues motivating your team or even yourself?

Do  you need to know how to find those elusive “hot buttons” that ignite people into action?

Until a few years ago I would have answered, “Yes” to all of these. Then one day I had an epiphany.

You cannot motivate anyone!

Yep. You heard me. You cannot motivate anyone...except yourself. Think about it.

Motivation is very personal and comes from within us.  Let’s look at the definition.

Motivation n: the reason or reasons behind one’s actions or behaviour (Oxford Dictionary).

Whether it is the primal drivers of the need for food and perpetuation of the species as in migrating salmon or it is because you have been made redundant thanks to the recent recession and you are motivated to provide for your family, the reason motivates you. There may be external factors but the driver comes from within.

Now what you can do is inspire others. Inspiration is initiated externally. At its root, inspire relates to “breathing in”. Oxford Dictionary defines inspiration as:

The process or quality of being inspired; a person or thing that inspires.

That is we must breathe it into ourselves first. Breathe in the inspiration and then use it, as the body uses oxygen, to help us to live and wilfully act upon our surroundings.

Inspiration precedes motivation.  You need to be inspired and motivated to inspire others to become motivated.

No matter the audience, when I have asked for a show of hands those who could tell me exactly what motivates the people around them at work, rest or play, there has been very few or no hands up. A sad testimony don’t you think. No wonder there is such a chronic need today for effective leadership development?

Now think of Dr Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. He inspired a movement that was motivated to bring about cultural change.  That inspiration came about because Dr King connected with his audience. He connected with them at an emotional and spiritual level. He was giving them the vision that inspired them. The intention was to pass them the baton to make it happen.  As leaders know, or most of them anyway, they cannot deliver the vision on their own. They need help.

Share the Dream

So for you to motivate anyone you must first share the dream. Communicate it clearly, consistently, constantly and creatively.

Next help your motivatees to understand their purpose as it relates to achieving the dream, goal or target. Help them to connect with it so they understand their part and how meaningful their part is in the achievement. Help them T.E.A.M U.P. – Together Everyone Achieves More Understanding Purpose.

Using a football analogy, every player has a position and with that position comes role to play (their purpose) in the game plan especially when they understand the importance of working as a team.  No game plan. No awareness of their role. Out of position. Bad result.

Key Questions

93" height="210" />Here is a question worthy of some significant consideration. Ask yourself. Ask your team.

If we do this in sport, why do we not tend to do it in business or even in at home?

Your role is to understand your purpose and, where relevant, help your motivatees to identify theirs and how it fits into the inspiring bigger picture. Do that and motivation is beginning to take form.

As the late Jim Rohn said, “When the why gets strong the how becomes easy.”

Inspire the team. Power comes when you align the individual’s purpose with the team’s purpose. The individual becomes aware, perhaps for the first time, how key they are to the success of the team or the organization. After all, teams win championships not individuals because they work as a team playing off each other’s skills, knowledge, experience and responsibilities.

Now you might be asking how do you help your motivatees to discover their purpose?

Well, one simple way to gain insight into what may motivate someone is to ask them the following question:

If you had unlimited resource in your life, what would you do?

Everyone is born with a purpose. It is hard-wired into their DNA. Everyone has strengths and gifts that will support that purpose. Regrettably, most people never discover what their purpose, gifts or strengths are. This is a way to draw it out.

Another couple of simple clarifying questions to ask them are:

What comes easy to you?

What’s your dream?

These answers will begin to enlighten you (and hopefully them) as to what those “hot buttons” might be.

Now that we have some lights coming on, what value would it be to you, your team and your organization etc if you had a simple and effective method or tool that enabled you (and everyone else for that matter) to really know what those “hot buttons” really are in about 7 minutes over a cup of coffee?

The Hot Box

Enter the “Hot Box”

Sit down with your team-mate and work with them to fill in this box.

For illustration purposes, let’s use a work scenario and overlay the success model first devised by Napolean Hill -  Be x Do = Have. Who we are combined with our actions delivers the results.

1.Ask them why they go to work.  The answer you are looking for is so they can make money so they can invest it in their personal lives to deliver the lifestyle they aspire to.

2.Ask them to fill in 1-3 personal goals they would like to achieve over the next 90 days, 1 year and 3 years. Examples could be an all-inclusive vacation to the tropics or buy a house or start a hobby. This helps you both identify what is driving them, their “Why?”  – their “hot buttons”. These are the ultimate results or the “Haves”

3.Help them make the connection between their personal goals and their professional goals. Ask them what they need to achieve in their professional role over 90 days, 1 year and 3 years that will ensure they then have the resources to deliver the personal goals. The answers go in the respective boxes. These answer “What?” they need to do to achieve those personal goals. They represent the “Dos”.  If they do not act on these, they won’t get the results they desire.

4.Assuming that as time progresses they desire to grow, help your motivatee to then establish their personal development goals in their professional role. A great question to ask here is, “Who do you need to ‘be’ to deliver your professional goals?” Examples could be they need training to be more productive or to be better at sales or be a better manager. These answer “Who” they need to become and helps identify their development needs. Emphasize the connection between “Who” they need to become with “What” they need to do and “Why” that is so important to them.

Completed this way, you will have a Personal Motivation Plan - a record for yours and their reference at any time.  And all it takes is about 7 minutes.

Now there is a piece missing. Do the following and you and everyone else nearby will know what the “hot buttons” are.

5.Once completed, request that your motivatee then obtain a picture that represents each respective Personal Goal and post it where they (and you et al) can see it easily and frequently e.g. a photo next to their phone, computer or car sun visor or an image on their iPhone or as a screensaver. This provides a constant reminder of “Why” they are truly there – for them and for you and for the rest of the team.

6.Now, as and when required, you can hit their “hot button” and reinforce their motivators. Ask a question like, “So, how are you getting on to attaining that dream holiday?” to reconnect them with their purpose. Or comment, “Now that you have made this project so profitable, congratulations on your raise! Now you will have the down payment for that house.” You get the idea.

No Excuses

So now are you motivated? Go get some coffee, carve out 7 minute blocks, sit down and pull out the Hot Box. Now you have no excuses. Ask. “Why?” “What?” “Who?” Ignite yourself. Then ignite the team. You will be glad you did. Oh...And please let me know how you get on.

(P:S: Dr Richard Norris has also written another guest post on Time Flies: Time Soars.)

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Could you do with managing your time better? Would you like to be more productive and set and lead a great example based on how you are managing your time? Would you like the people around you to respect your time and make better use of theirs?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then, the solution is:

7 minutes.

The true value of those 7 minutes manifests when you use them effectively and efficiently in all the relationships you have in your life – at work, rest or play.

Time Flies

Time is a funny thing. It can seem to fly by and as such you do not truly catch the value of it. It is something that must be seen as a true investment. Therefore, you must expect a return. If you are not getting a return then you are likely either viewing it as an expendable resource or something that you cannot control.

Many people talk about how they “spend” their time – working, sleeping, watching TV etc. Their perception is therefore that it is a commodity used in a transaction. Psychologically, they do not perceive it as the asset and investment it is. Effectively, they are not expecting a return. You end up spending your time like you spend your money.

Is this you?

Do you ever say to yourself, “I wish I had more time?”

Or

Do you ever say to your “boss, “I need more time?”

Or

Do you ever say to your family, “I wish I could spend more time with you?” And then tell them about all your commitments.

If you are like me, then you answered, “Yes” to all those. If so, your perspective of time is likely skewed in the wrong direction.

Here’s why. You cannot control or manage time!

There is a plethora of time management courses out there. Most of them are helpful. I would suggest they change their name to self-management courses. You cannot manage time (in case you missed it the first time!).

Let me illustrate. If I were to give you my watch and said, “Please manage my time”, could you do it? No. Time passes whether we like it or not. It is what we do with it and how that is important. This derives from our self-management and the decisions we make and the actions we take with respect to our time.

So how do you manage yourself and therefore get a return on the time you are investing (not spending)?

Time Soars

This is where the 7 minutes comes in. In truth it is actually not just 7 minutes. It is the first 7 minutes in every engagement that will predominantly determine your outcome.

Regardless if it is a task, a meeting or when you first return home to your family, the first 7 minutes are crucial.

Tasks

Before you begin your day, before you begin a task, give the first 7 minutes as if they are the most important. Use them to prioritize and identify the outcomes you desire for tasks and for the day. This aligns very nicely to ending your day with 7 minutes to plan what you will do the next day giving your mind space to clear out some noise and process subconsciously so it is prepared for the work ahead the next day. You will be surprised at the clarity this provides.

Same thing at the beginning of the day – commit those first 7 minutes to refining your plan for the day and the outcomes you desire. Do this and things wonderfully begin to flow better and you approach things in a more centred way.

Self

As with Tasks, invest the first 7 minutes of your day or work day, depending on what works best, find a quiet place or create a quiet space and just invest that time meditating on your life, your goals, your dreams, your vision.

To give yourself that extra boost, do it at the end of your day too – just 7 minutes.

Team

At team or 1-2-1 meetings give them your best, at least, for the first 7 minutes. That is, be focused and interested in them first. Listen. Ask questions relative to what they are saying. As a cardinal rule for networking states, ‘Be interested before being interesting’. People will value you for it. You will be adding significant deposits into their Emotional Bank Accounts. That way, when you need to ask something of them, you are working from a healthy balance rather than one that is overdrawn.

Friends & Family

This is where the “First 7 minute Rule” really rocks.

Like me, you may bring your work home with you. Like me, you may often be so consumed with your issues that you neglect to consider that your family may have their own.

Well I should say, I used to. Now when my kids wake up and when my wife wakes up (I am an early riser – a legacy of 23 years as a competitive swimmer), when I first greet them I do so with a warm smile, open arms and a focus on making their day right from the first moment. The smiles, hugs and kisses are worth it!

Perhaps, most importantly, at day’s end, on the way back home, I ask myself about 7 minutes from home, “How would the best husband and father, act when he comes through the door at home and greets his family?” (Please adapt this to whatever role(s) you are fulfilling).

Not only does this exercise prepare you, it ensures you are in the right relaxed state of mind to maximise that first 7 minutes where you are totally focused on them. Your children can fill you with their excited stories that they are bursting to tell you. Your spouse or partner can off-load their cares and concerns. Remember, they don’t necessarily want solutions (a note particularly to those other guys reading this); they just want you to listen.

Do that and you are filling your Emotional Bank Account.

Do that and you will generate massive returns!

Do that and you can far more simply, effectively and consistently then ask them if you can make a phone call or do some work.

Just do it!

Do all of the above and your time will no longer fly; it will soar! Do this and you will create time! Do this and you will have a new lease on life because time is life. So use your 7 minutes wisely and to effect!

Time heals all wounds

Which has been your experience? Time flies or time soars? So which do you owe yourself, your team and your family? What changes are you prepared to make so that time works for you rather irks you?

P:S: This is a guest post by Dr Richard Norris, Head of Global Development, Lifestyle Architecture. Richard has 20 years of diverse business experience in the field of training, business development and operations. Starting his career as a veterinarian in Canada then an army officer in the UK, Richard went on to attain his MBA at Cranfield School of Management to harness his passion for leadership, team and personal development.You can follow Richard on Twitter.

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Rajiv Dingra has been a digital media analyst and social media evangelist for the last 5 years. WATBlog’s chief blogger & the CEO of a leading social media consultancy firm WATConsult, Rajiv is a well known prolific Blogger & a young dynamic entrepreneur who started WATMedia Pvt Ltd four years ago and has excelled in carving a niche for himself in the Digital Media Industry.

His social media expertise lies in understanding the Indian Mobile and Web Space. He has been a part of several digital media panels like Digital media Conclave, Yahoo Digital media and Eximus – IIM Bangalore event & is a prolific speaker. He is on the jury of The Bees Awards (San Francisco).

In an exclusive interview with Freshersworld.com, he talks about his life, social media and future plans.

Freshersworld.com: You are young and successful. Please tell us about yourself and your struggling days?

Rajiv: Hehe.. I think you are wrong on both those assumptions. I'm not young anymore. Young in the digital space is someone in his teens who is creating the next big thing. Larry and Sergey did it with Google and then Mark Zuckerberg did it with Facebook. There are umpteen other examples as well of people in their early 20's doing so in the West. In India thats taken time. I'm 25 so not really early 20's but I'm much wiser and sharper  than I used to be. I am more patient as well. Earlier I was impatient, easily excitable and also over enthusiastic. I think all of this helped in pushing the bar and finding gold where there was none. What it did was instilled an attitude of relentless hardwork whether or not it bears fruit in me.

With regards to you calling me successful. I don't think about life as success or failure. I think of it as constant process of achievement. Achievement is ongoing and so is success. If you ain't dissatisfied with your current state you wont change it and hence you wont progress and hence you wont succeed. Hence inorder to succeed regularly you need to be grossly dissatisfied with who you are today and what you have achieved. The hungrier you are the farther you will go .

Freshersworld.com: What was that idea which has now  successfully grown into WATblog?

Rajiv: The idea was to share and to showcase my knowledge in digital media. The idea was never motivated by money or business returns and probably thats why it has done well. I genuinely felt the need to share my thoughts on the digital media piece. I believe anything done because you want to and not because you have to will lead to success.

Freshersworld.com: The majority of people in India are on Orkut but now the trends show Facebook is fast catching up. Do you think facebook is the future in India?

Rajiv: I don't think either is the future. Facebook will definitely grow and not only in India but the world over. But India still seems like a more mobile friendly market than most others. We would be foolish to think that what we see today is what will remain tomorrow. The innovation piece has not even been scratched as far as India is concerned with respect to mobile social networking. The long term winner could be a totally new player if you ask me.

Freshersworld.com: Do you think social media can help freshers in job hunting? How?

Rajiv: For sure it can. Why only freshers it can help anyone. Today you do a search on Twitter or Linkedin and you will find 100's if not 1000's of prospective employers. The opportunity for you is to showcase yourself well and communicate your strengths on the right platforms.

Freshersworld.com: Rajiv Dhingra is a social media expert. Freshersworld.com provides career networking to engineering graduates or freshers. What is your general advice for young and budding freshers who visit Freshersworld.com, where they can create their own blogs and online communities?

Rajiv: My advice is to be an honest voice. Try being yourself in whatever you do. If you do that no matter which platform or community you are a part of, you shall make a difference to that community only if you bring the real you and your opinions, advice or knowledge to the table.

Freshersworld.com: Thank you so much Rajiv for your time and valuable tips.

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How many of you are thinking about Radio Jockey as a career option? In an exclusive interview with, RJ Pavitra, Senior Producer and Drive Time Radio Jockey with 94.3 Radio One Bangalore, we try to find out how difficult or easy it is to be an RJ? We also explore RJ as career option for freshers. Radio One is India’s only Music station with Shankar Ehsaan and Loy as their Brand Ambassadors.

A lot of people are under the impression that RJ is a very chilled out job and an easy thing to take up. However, it's not an easy job. Pavitra says that you really need to prepare well every time you go on air. There can be times when you feel burnt out however despite this, you have to show smiley, you are thrilled, full of energy, because you have to develop a connent with lakhs of people listening to you.

Pavitra adds that even if you don't have a post graduate degree, it would be fine as long as you have a good voice. What really counts is a good attitude on air. You are connecting to lakhs of listeners, most of them feel connected to you personally. They feel you are actually talking to them. So,if you really don't connect well, you can't be a succesful RJ.This is the greatest challenge for anyone who wants to become an RJ.

Pavitra holds a degree in Journalism, English Literature and Economics. She did her Post Graduation in Mass Communication – Electronic Media (specialization in Radio and Television).

Pavitra has been an all rounder throughout. She was also a very active participant in Elocutions and Debates during College days and won lots of accolades for college. At district level competition, she has been adjudged as the best elocutionist.

About the secret of her success, Pavitra says, "My success is totally dedicated to my Parents who have been my strongest pillars through ups and downs. They have been the biggest influence and inspiration in my life. Couldn’t have achieved all this without them. We have had ceremonies of appreciation and criticism as well over the dinner table."

We had an exclusive video interview with RJ Pavitra.

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Aman Jain is the Founder & Head of Zav Foundation, an NGO which was started as an individual initiative in the direction of building a strong India by 2020, as envisioned by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former president of India.

Aman took on the task of converting at least 0.005 % of Indian youth being productive via Non Formal Education, thus ZAV was conceived on Jan 5th 2009 and later registered as a non-profit organization. Today ZAV is supported by volunteers across the globe and has impacted more than 25000 student lives throughout Karnataka and Maharashtra. ZAV and Aman are committed to creating an India full of young people who are liberated from weaknesses that are personal and inter-personal; young people who are geared up to take on the future with skills that are honed in a way that there is personal change and thus social change.

Aman did his Schooling from Lewa English High School and Pre University from St Josephs and then Bachelor of Engineering from Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College of Engineering in Electronics and Communication with special interest in Image Processing. Aman was in our office the other day where we discussed about his NGO work, society and future goals.

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Rashmi Bansal is a writer, entrepreneur and youth expert. She is co-founder and editor of a popular youth magazine called JAM - Just Another Magazine. Rashmi writes extensively on youth, careers and entrepreneurship and hosts the popular Youth Curry blog.

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