Motivating Others- "We can do this the easy way or the hard way"

I hate getting shots. Yes, me, an eighteen year old at BYU, still has a fear of shots...yikes. Well, this fear of mine has been a part of me since my birth. So, allow me to tell you about one experience getting a shot. I was about nine years old at the time of this incident. Waiting in the doctor's room with my mom I was growing increasingly more nervous for what was about to come. It felt like forever before a nurse walked into the room with a shot in hand. I flipped out. I began running away from the nurse. This meant I was running in circles around the little room. Finally the nurse yelled at me, "we can do this the easy way or the hard way". I stopped for a moment and she stabbed me with the needle.

So, "we can do this the easy way or the hard way". That's one way to motivate a child, right? I would have preferred to hear about all the treats I'd receive if I'd sit still. However, everyone has their different motivation techniques. So let's look at a few...

Marilyn Monroe- Charismatic. Although known for her promiscuity, I prefer to look at her ability to motive others as charisma. With such a dazzling and captivating personality, she was able to influence others to do as she wished. Her charm was a motivating technique. This is an effective style, but does has its limitations. It would not be appropriate or effective in a professional environment when those following the leader seek credibility.


Sarah Palin- An example of poor motivation techniques. Clearly if she was really effective in motivating others she would have been more successful in the presidential elections. She was ineffective because she did not establish political credibility with her audience. People are not going to do what she says if they don't trust her.

These are a few of the leaders that visited our leadership lab this Halloween...& how they motivated others.