John Adair's 100 Greatest Ideas for Effective Leadership

Idea 34: Ten ways to strengthen your own motivation

To motivate others successfully you have to feel highly motivated yourself. Here are ten ways to help you do just that:

1. Feel and act enthusiastically and in a committed way in your daily work.
2. Take responsibility when things go wrong rather than blaming others.
3. Identify ways in which you can lead by example.
4. Act according to the 50:50 principle: 50 percent of motivation comes from within ourselves, 50 percent from outside.
5. Motivate by work and example rather than manipulation.
6. Set an example naturally rather than in a calculated way.
7. Don't give up too easily.
8. Ensure you are in the right job for your own abilities, interests and temperament.
9. Be able to cite experience where what you have said ...