03/28/2025
Many leaders I coach struggle with motivating their teams beyond what feels like the bare minimum. When expectations aren’t met—even when clearly communicated—it can seem like team members are intentionally resistant or even insubordinate.
But often, the issue isn’t resistance or defiance—it’s that something is missing to help them move from instruction to implementation.
If you’re facing this challenge, take a step back and ask yourself:
✅ Have I clearly communicated the vision of the work?
✅ Does my team member have the skills to complete the task?
✅ Have I made the purpose of the work clear so they can connect with it?
✅ Have I provided all the necessary resources?
✅ Can they see how their work supports the larger strategic plan?
In “Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard”, Chip and Dan Heath highlight three key components for driving effective movement:
🔹 Direct the Rider – Provide clear, logical direction by identifying successful patterns, scripting key behaviors, and setting a defined goal.
🔹 Motivate the Elephant – Engage emotions by connecting to feelings, making change manageable, and fostering growth.
🔹 Shape the Path – Modify the environment to make success easier by adjusting surroundings, building habits, and leveraging social influence.
New initiatives bring change, and lasting change requires ongoing reinforcement. My clients achieve momentum with their teams because, with my support, they develop strong strategic planning and implementation systems.
Need help driving real change in your team? Let’s work together. Schedule a consultation today!
