Can We Invite a Motivational Speaker For Our Leadership Meet?
Aniisu K Verghese Ph.D.
Elevating Internal Communications. Amplifying Personal Brands | IC & Change Leader, Author & Speaker | Linkedin's Top Voice for IC and Personal Branding | Australian Distinguished Talent PR Visa Awardee
Divya heads HR at Isle Management and is in discussion with her management team on their annual employee survey results. They are dismayed by what they read. They invite their business leaders to decode the findings. Here is an excerpt from their conversation. I invite you to share your views on this case.
Divya: “It is difficult to comprehend that our managers are not motivated enough. We do so much to engage them all around the year and they are the face of the organization for their teams.”
Tony (IT head): “I agree. We provide industry leading benefits and offer opportunities to progress in their careers. What more can anyone ask for?”
Isabel (Finance leader): (nodding her head) “Completely agree. There is so much of investment we make – sending them for seminars, conferences and trainings. Despite that they feel they are not engaged enough. I don’t get it”.
Violet (business partner): “I have spent months explaining how we can look at last year’s findings and make the workplace come alive. We do so many engaging activities, support the business with insights to improve connection – yet….(her voice fades).
Anil (strategy head): “It is an unhealthy sign. Indicates that leaders are not sufficiently motivated to lead their teams. We have shown them where we are heading as a company and what we expect of them. What more can be expected?”
Divya: “Thinking aloud – why don’t we call for a leadership meet?”
Anil: “What will we achieve?”
Divya: “It will be good to get them away from the workplace, get fresh perspectives and open their minds to newer ways of engaging”
Tony: “But how?”
Divya: “By inviting an inspirational speaker from outside to address our leaders!”
Violet: “What a wonderful idea. How clever!”
Anil: “I like it. Let us do this. I am sure people will love to be motivated. We tried and it didn’t work. So hopefully, someone else can.”
Isabel (sounding apprehensive): “Sorry folks, I am not sure about this. What will happen after this person speaks?”
Divya (looking offended): “What do you mean Isabel? The speaker will inspire our leaders and they will go forth and inspire others”
Tony: “Yes, if we get Milind Kumar, the expert sociologist who studied how people interact in different cultures or Michel Rotwik, the futurist who can read your future by looking at your nails or Kanishka Godbole, the renowned doctor who has performed multiple heart surgeries and is listed as a Tinkle Book of Records holder. Or even, Karthik Pillai who ran the 20km marathon backwards”.
Isabel (looking in disbelief): “You sure?”
Tony: “It will work– I can see how our leaders will emerge mesmerized, committed and energized by this interaction. They will then be able to apply insights to engage their teams”
Isabel: “Hmm, I am not sure though.”
She excuses herself from the meeting and walks back to her desk thinking if what she heard was really true. This group is thinking of calling an external speaker who will inspire their leaders? She wants to discuss this topic again with Divya and revisit this thinking altogether. Is her feeling unfounded? Will this really not work? What do you think?
QA Manager @Blazeclan Technologies | 3x Cloud (AWS CCP, AZ900, Cloud Digital Leader) | 3x ISTQB | CSM | YouTuber - QACubicle
7yI think that at first place there is need to understand the motivation factor, it varies from person to person, for few it may be money, for others it may be good work etc. Sometimes people gets motivated by reading motivational books, listing the motivational speakers as well. So there is no harm to conduct such sessions.
Even songs can be motivational
Leadership & Talent Development | Organizational Development | Diversity & Inclusion | Experiential Education | Business Storytelling | Executive & Career Transition Coaching | Wellbeing | TEDx speaker
7yI think the answer is somewhere between the two points of view. Even a pep talk from a boss is good enough to energise people. I remember that Ajay Bagga had done that for me in my very first job. I was a struggling salesperson, unsure of why anyone would buy my product when the competition was selling cheaper. Ajay gave us a list of reasons why our legacy and product offering was superior. I remember walking out feeling quite heartened. Teachers do it routinely. As do coaches. Watch any Hollywood sports movie. I've given pep-talks to innumerable people and they have walked away smiling broader, chin higher. Isabel's concerns are valid because unless a motivational talk / pep-talk are linked to the work issue that your employees face, it could be effort and money down the drain. Choose a motivational speaker wisely. Or choose me. ;-)
Wellness Coach | Diet Consultant | Motivational Speaker
7yI believe that Motivation Works... provided it is customised solution.. not a generic one. A good motivational speaker/ leader can give perspectives which people within may not be able to see. A successful person may be able to inspire people to go beyond themselves even if he is not from that organisation. An outsider may be better able to view the situation than sometimes an insider. Lets assume that the people within have done what they could do and maybe an external spark could trigger something new. So my personal view is that Yes... Go ahead.. try it... Human beings work in strange predictable and unpredictable ways. We must try everything!
Soft Skills / Sales Training / Motivation Specialist / Voice Coach / Master of Ceremonies
7yWell, the studies tell us that only about 14 to 15% people in any organization have their goals and vision aligned with the vision and goals of the organizations they are working in. Now if that is the case then the managers who are not performing or are casual in their approach need to be communicated to align their vision with the vision of the company they are working in. This communication has to come from the top management. An external motivational speaker can definitely help by motivating them to listen to their top managements contention for aligning visions.