Instead, work to keep them from being demotivated.

How do I motivate my staff? That question seems to baffle most chiropractic offices. Motivating people seems to be more elusive than almost any other aspect of management. For that reason there are countless articles and classes devoted to it.

But, in reality, the strongest business leaders don’t motivate their employees.

That’s right, as a business leader, your job is not to motivate.  It is your job to make sure the right people are on the bus, as is describe in the book “Good to Great”.  Your other job is making sure the right people are in the right positions. 

Humans come naturally to hard work and sacrifice; these traits are essential to the survival of our species. The brain is  hardwired with the desire to do quality work. You may view motivating employees to be a critical aspect of your job, but have you ever had an employee express the need to be motivated? Do you need a boss to motivate you to do your job in the office? Unless you’re a very unusual person, your answer to both questions is no. You can be certain that most employees feel the same.  

If an employee is truly unmotivated, it’s probably time to take him/her off the payroll. Meanwhile, the critical issue isn’t how to motivate but, rather, how to keep people from becomingdemotivated. And the strongest business leaders understand this distinction.  De-motivation happens when someone is out of their natural gifts and/or they don’t see the bigger picture.  Having a clear vision is critical to avoiding de-motivation. 

You can be certain, for example, that everyone on your staff wants the following from you and always will: (1) clear direction (both in job description and vision), (2) the resources to perform as required and (3) never to be treated disrespectfully. A work environment structured to provide those three things is also exactly what deliver the experience that our loyal patients want too..  Provide your employees these three things, and you will be on your way to leadership greatness. Fail to do so, and you may be an adequate leader but you’ll never be a great one.

All Chiropractors can be great leaders if they work to understand how to lead.  

Enjoy!  Loving and Livin,

Dr. W

     Last night on was on a routine run, but not after a routine day.  My body was tired, was a little dehydrated, mentally drained, and I really needed to feel the pavement under my feet.  As I am running and doing my best to find my zone.  My body was telling me everything contrary to finding that zone.  My knee was popping, my side had 8th grade stitches (and I know I am past growing pains), my lungs were tight, my back was sore, and my head was achy.  I kept telling myself to push on Tracy! Champions don’t quit! Focus on the prize!  Wait what prize, what am I doing out here, was that my leg that just fell off, came other thoughts.  Good and evil one on each should screaming their message.  And then finally I see the finish.. my house is around the corner.  

As I stumble across my driveway I realized that this run is how most people see their day.  Full of pain and small moments of joy.  And those joyful moments are usually when they stop the pain.  

Where are you, do you live one painful moment to the next?  Or are you filled with so much joy and excitement that when a painful moment happens it stands out so big that you cannot ignore it.  For some people, pain in their life is like a pet, they feed it and nurture it hoping it will stay around and greet them when they rise or come home.  It’s time to sing the song “who let the dog’s out” and free this painful pet.  The way to do it, well that is easier than you think.  

It is all about purpose.  When the why is big enough, they how’s show up.  Today seek to understand “Why you do what you do” (good or bad) and you will unearth some deeper meanings of what will take you to the next level.  Ask yourself “Why” you just did what you did, or what you do every day.  Find the purpose behind your daily actions and you will find ways to hush the little evil voice who is always their to distract you from that very purpose.  Discovering the why is empowering you to live with new priorities, heightened senses, and greater levels of fulfillment.  Push through the pain of digging deep on your why in life, don’t stop until you have found the vein of gold you are digging to find.  Enjoy!

Lovin and Livin,

Dr. Wilson