100 Ways to Motivate Others

50. Count Yourself in

To decide to be at the level of choice, is to take responsibility for your life and to be in control of your life.

—Arbie M. Dale, psychologist and author

Leaders who take ownership motivate more effectively than leaders who pass themselves off as victims of the corporate structure or upper management. That’s because they have made a conscious decision to live at the level of choice. Throughout their day, their people hear them talk of “buying in.” They are always heard saying, “Count me in. I’m in on that.”

The reason leaders living at the level of choice say, “Count me in,” is not because they’re apple-polishing, bootlicking company people. As a matter of fact, they don’t much care who their company is! They’re going to ...