Motivational Management: Inspiring Your People for Maximum Performance

Targeting the Feelings That Influence Actions

Because of its nonfunctional benefits, motivational communication has a direct impact on how people feel about themselves and their work. Functional communications generally target only what people do, not how they feel or what they think. Motivational communications target attitudes, the feelings and thoughts behind employee actions. That is the fundamental difference between functional and motivational approaches to communication.

When Communication Hurts Motivation

You can think of motivational communications as addressing actions indirectly, through the attitudes behind actions. And you can think of functional communications as addressing actions directly while ignoring feelings. But does that ...