Reasons for motivational failure

Answer 1

Are you asking for reasons why a motivational program, book, speaker or other device may not yield the results you're looking for? I'm going to answer as if that is the question, but if I'm misinterpreting it, let me know and I'll try again.

I work with several motivational speakers and I am passionate about the field of personal and professional improvement. Based on that, here's what I've learned:

A person can be motivated by both internal and external factors. The difference between the two is pretty clear: external factors might be money, gifts, promotions, and such. Internal factors could be the need for recognition, for a feeling of significance, for reputation, for respect, and so on.

To motivate someone, a speaker, or a book, or whatever the "tool" is, must tap into one or more of those areas. External motivators might have the most immediate result, but they can fade over time. Internal motivators are ultimately more powerful and longer lasting.

Every person is different, so the motivator must be tailored to each person individually. You can't expect everyone respond to everything the same. Maybe one person really responds well to financial rewards. Another person might have very little interest in that, but is just looking for a chance to be recognized for their contribution.

In conclusion, when looking for reasons for motivational failure, I would look to see if the motivating factors/drivers have been tailored to the target audience, and then see if they have been communicated properly.

You might find more guidance in one of Marcus Buckingham's books like First, Break All the Rules or The One Thing You Need to Know. If you're not familiar with Marcus Buckingham, you can find his profile on http://www.thespeakersgroup.com.