7th May 2024

This week, I want to talk to you about how you can’t motivate other people, as they can only motivate themselves. Remember, I said that motivation always comes from within. You can always inspire and encourage, but ultimately, it’s for others to find their own reasons to achieve something.
It’s really crucial to remember this, as many people make the mistake of trying to motivate others unsuccessfully. But you can only make other people do something when they really want to do it themselves. Therefore, you must focus on nurturing someone’s interests and passions, rather than imposing external expectations.
Instead of trying to motivate others, shift your focus instead to setting a positive example and creating a supportive environment for them. Always strive to encourage others to find their own motivation and support them in their journey to finding a goal and then help them work towards that goal.
No matter how much you try to push or encourage someone to do something, it is always up to them to find their internal drive and determination to take action. In fact, trying to motivate others can sometimes even have unintended consequences and actually demotivate them!
Here are some examples:
- If you are a parent, instead of pressuring your child to attend activities or achieve academic goals, focus on nurturing their interests. Help them find what motivates them. Ultimately, your child will be more successful and fulfilled if they pursue their own passions, rather than trying to meet your expectations.
- Or instead of nagging someone to study for exams, offer to help them study, or share study techniques that have helped you. Or provide encouragement and practical support, even doing simple things like bringing them drinks or food while they’re studying. Ultimately, they must find the motivation to study alone.
- Or in a work setting, instead of micromanaging someone and constantly pushing them to meet deadlines, try to focus instead on keeping a positive and supportive work environment. Encourage communication, provide tools for success and trust them to find their own motivation to fulfil their role.
Finally, remember that it can be difficult for some people to find the right balance between offering support and being too hands-off. Alternatively, they may argue that pressure or expectation is necessary to help others to succeed. Also, sometimes, some people may lack intrinsic motivation and need more external support.
So, this week, instead of trying to motivate others, focus instead on positively influencing people around you and then try supporting them in their journey to finding and achieving success. Also, remember the importance of finding what works best for each individual!




