One way to motivate someone to change his or her behavior is to explain how doing so will lead to greater cooperation from others. Think about it, people work with people. This means that at some point, everyone has to depend on someone else to assist them in some way.
Unfortunately (or fortunately), a person's actions can directly impact the kind of cooperation she or he receives from others. Consider the employee who coworkers refuse to help; who gets overlooked for prime projects; or who is always arguing with someone. If everybody is acting the same way to this person, then it is probably the person who needs to change, not everyone else.
If you work with someone like this, two things are probably happening. One, you probably have some ideas about changes this person could make in how she or he acts. Two, this person is probably complaining about the lack of support or assistance he or she receives from others. These complaints are useful because you can use them to motivate this person to try your ideas. How? Start with these five sets of questions:
1. Does this person complain that coworkers are unwilling to share information and expertise? How could your suggestions lead to greater assistance in this area?
2. Are there times when others refuse to help with this person's workloads? Might taking the steps you suggest help lead to less resistance in these cases?
3. Have there been times when coworkers or superiors are hesitant to support ideas from this person? Would the changes you recommend result in others being more willing to listen or provide support?
4. Is this person faced with situations where there are frequent conflicts, tension, or friction? How might your suggestions lower the level of unease in these situations?
5. Has this person been omitted from participating in key projects or other important assignments that could further his or her career? Can the changes you recommend lead to possible consideration in such instances?
Motivation Is About Highlighting A Personal Benefit
Sometimes motivation involves encouraging a person to make a change in what he or she is doing. A person is more likely to make this change when there is a personal benefit. Gaining cooperation from others is just one of many personal benefits that exist in the workplace. The next time someone complains to you about a lack of cooperation from others, try this approach. The person might just be motivated to make a change.
About the Author:Dr. Barbara Brown trains, writes, and consults on strategies to enhance and improve workplace performance.
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