How to Motivate People and It’s Not What You Think (part 3)

In the last part of this article we will examine the remaining motivator, Conceptual, and tie everything together. Let’s get to it…

The Conceptual person can be identifed by their deep quest for knowledge, data and reality.  They love to learn, tend to be objective in approach and favor critical thinking.  They don’t like opinions and really only care about the facts.  Feelings take the back seat to reason/ logic. In case you haven’t figured it out- they are adamant about knowledge, learning, thinking and reasoning.  Plain and simple.

Now let’s tie all the pieces together.  Since we have studied the six motivators that entrepreneurs can use to help identify in people (read: build bridges to, or use to your ethical advantage).  Most people tend to focus in on one motivator, when in fact they should look for two.  Keep in mind that people will have a dominate motivator and another secondary motivator that will “temper” the first. If not the primary motivator may overwhelm us.  For example, if someone has exhibits the Power and Authority motivator, they may have the Social motivator as the secondary.  This means they may want some control but may funnel that control to a reformist cause. 

Or let’s say they have a strong Power and Authority tempered by Economic.  In this case they may  have a strong desire for Power but they are into financial control. You see?   Let’s look at another combination.  Aesthetic and Doctrine; in this case the person may be way into art- as in Renaissance but may have an affection for tribal rituals and cultures.  Making sense?

All this means is that people will exhibit two motivators. If you can identify them these motivators will act as hot buttons.  Craft your message to appeal to how they are motivated and your chances of success increase.  By contrast, if you want to de-motivate someone try to motivate them with anything but what traits they are exhibiting.  Or put another way, if you are a manager with a strong Economic motivator, how effective will you be if you offer a raise and they are motivated by Power and Authority?  In this case, keep your money and offer them an office closer to the CEO’s, they will respond to that better.