Try to create win-win situations. Make helping you a rewarding, appealing experience. Be generous with your support and your praise, but not your time.

Everyone is the center of their own universe. The star of their own movie. They have their own agendas, no matter how altruistic you may believe them to be. You must figure out a way this assignment benefits them.

Give them a reason to want to do it. What is the value to them? Sell them on the benefits, the rewards. These can be long term or short term, monetary or social or personal. If one motivator does not work, find one that will.

The right person for the right task. Know their strengths and weaknesses and match the task to their strength.

Let the person have input in the beginning so they will take ownership of the job.

Listen carefully. Be sure they understand the assignment. Have them repeat it back to you. Encourage them to ask questions up front.

Give complete instructions. Be crystal clear about what you need and when you need it. Put it in writing for easy reference, so they don’t have to keep coming to you with questions.

Grant enough authority for them to be able to complete the task. Give them the tools and resources they need.

Don’t micro manage. Hands off. Let them solve their own problems, that’s how they will learn. Be available if they nood you. Try to avoid taking things away from them. Allow them for a few mistakes along the way.

Keep an open mind. Let them do it their way. You might even learn something in the process.

Stress the final outcome you seek, not how to go about it.

Give constructive criticism. If you are hypercritical, however, they will get gun shy, won’t take any risks, and will feel they have to check you about every little nitpicking detail. Be supportive, be clear, offer specifics of how they went wrong and how to fix it.

Track their progress. Mark key due dates on your calendar and check them off.

Reward and thank and compliment them for their efforts on your behalf. Be generous. It is your time they’re saving.

What motivates people?

To get people to do things, pitch in. You have to figure out what their movation is, and appeal to it. Here are some things that motivate people:

• Money
• Recognition
• Career advancement
• Winning
• Being part of a team
• Usefulness
• Time off
• Food
• Security
• Challenge
• Responsibility
• Growth
• Knowledge
• Comfort
• Respect

ACTION TIME

Name four more