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Motivating people...how to?
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 2009-08-23 9:31 AM |
 70 |  Subject: Motivating people...how to?I have been fortunate to 'mentor' a few people into their first tri in the past few years. My issue is with a few that say they want to do it 'next year' every year and just need a little extra poke. Any suggestions on what to do to get them to the place of starting the workout routine? I know once they start the training they will be locked in. |
| 2009-08-23 9:39 AM in reply to: #2364775 |
Expert 713   Lake in the Hills, IL | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? It is very hard. I have a couple brothers I have been trying to motivate for years. I would get them up off the couch for a couple weeks at a time but it never lasted long. Then one day THEY decided it was time for a change and started to work out. One lost about 70 pounds. Maybe it was me to put the thought in his head but I have a feeling it was more him deciding it was time to change directions. The person has to wanna do it in the first place. |
| 2009-08-23 9:39 AM in reply to: #2364775 |
| 1 | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? Make them actually sign up for a race. I signed up for my first Tri this summer knowing that IF I trained hard enough, I would be able to do it. The prospects of either backing out (and wasting money on my entry fee) or not finishing the race kept me honest with my training. If you have them sign up for something they can't do (yet), they will have no choice but to stick to their training. Then they'll be hooked! |
| 2009-08-23 10:54 AM in reply to: #2364775 |
| 108 | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? Do these people want to be motivated? If not, you are just wasting your time. Maybe they say "next year" just to discourage you and they really don't intend to do it. You can't make people do what they don't want to do. Like you could tell me that I need to join a club to do public speaking (like Toastmasters) and sure it would probably be good for me and all that -- and it doesn't matter how much someone else loves it and wants me to try it --- I am not going to do it -- its not my thing. But if someone seems truely interested, I think it would be good to introduce them to other beginners so that its less intimidating. Tell them to just try a couple workouts and see how it goes. |
| 2009-08-23 10:56 AM in reply to: #2364775 |
Expert 1035 lake forest, California | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? you can lead a horse to water............ |
| 2009-08-23 11:50 AM in reply to: #2364775 |
Champion 7595  Columbia, South Carolina | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? Having been at the other end of this situation once, I can say that, for me, it was helpful for the seed to be planted (about running and getting in shape in general, not really about triathlon in particular), but beyond that, external forces weren't going to get it done. In fact, if I had been harassed about it (or even perceived that I was being harassed), I think it would have taken much longer for me to get up off my a$$. My advice: plant the seed (sounds like you've done that). Set a good example without shoving it in their face. If they're going to come around, they'll do it on their own. It took me several years, so you might need to be prepared for some seriously delayed gratification. |
| 2009-08-23 11:59 AM in reply to: #2364775 |
| Payson, AZ | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? Ugh, if only it was possible to actually motivate people. All you can do is lead by example. The motivation has to come from within. That being said, leading by example can be more powerful then you think. Then once that person does become motivated you can help nuture and guide, but that's about it. IMO of course. |
 2009-08-23 1:07 PM in reply to: #2364775 |
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| 2009-08-23 4:29 PM in reply to: #2364775 |
| Pro 6767 the Alabama part of Pennsylvania | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? It's not going to be a "one size fits all" answer. I think you have to get to know the person in particular to find out what works for them. I suggest asking them about something they accomplished that took some effort on their part, and what motivated them to complete it. For some, it may be having a specific goal - those are the people that do well with signing up for a race. For others, it may be "showing everyone they were wrong"; or maybe "I had to prove I could do it". Those people may need more "cheerleading". Others may have been doing it for the comraderie - they will likely be motivated by the group commitment ("we'll all be going for the ride at 8 am on Saturday"). There are surely other answers and types of motivators. My point is that you have to find out what works for the individual and tailor the motivation to that. |
| 2009-08-23 4:35 PM in reply to: #2364775 |
| 71 | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? Tell them you have a cookie. Works for me, but then again most of the people I motivate are 5 years old. |
| 2009-08-23 4:54 PM in reply to: #2365205 |
| Pro 6767 the Alabama part of Pennsylvania | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? hdn0380 - 2009-08-23 5:35 PM Tell them you have a cookie. Works for me, but then again most of the people I motivate are 5 years old. You have cookies? Can I have a cookie? |
| 2009-08-23 5:39 PM in reply to: #2364775 |
| Champion 5376 PA | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? I have the answer but if I typed it out here, I would get banned. Instead, I'll just say to watch the first half of "Full Metal Jacket." Now that is motivation baby.  j/k but perhaps having a get together where you, as a group, watch and talk about the 2008 Kona Ironman. If that doesn't motivate a person, give them a bag of Doritos and send them home. |
| 2009-08-24 12:17 AM in reply to: #2365219 |
| Master 2665 The Whites, New Hampshire | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? gearboy - 2009-08-23 5:54 PM hdn0380 - 2009-08-23 5:35 PM Tell them you have a cookie. Works for me, but then again most of the people I motivate are 5 years old. You have cookies? Can I have a cookie? I think the dark side has some... |
| 2009-08-24 12:19 AM in reply to: #2364775 |
| Master 2665 The Whites, New Hampshire | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? I found that my weight loss encouraged people about a year out (which is funny, because I was gaining again due to being sick). At first, my family was intensely jealous, a couple tried for a few weeks, then decided it was too hard. It took awhile for it to sink in that I worked that hard for a year and a half to get where I was. Eventually, they decided that they, too, could have what I had, and they were no different than me. Now, they are all beating me to their goals...  So I'll x2 to plant the seed and then stand back. If it grows, it grows, if it doesn't, nothing has changed for you. Keep on your goals, and you might just see the payback much later than you had thought possible. |
| 2009-08-24 12:47 AM in reply to: #2364775 |
| Master 2404 Redlands, CA | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? My wife just signed up for a sprint tri the other day. She's out of shape (did a 5k in 1 hour) and needs work to complete it. I wrote up a schedule for her, and she's only done a third of the workouts. I can't motivate her, and if she doesn't get out and excercise she won't finish. |
| 2009-08-24 7:43 AM in reply to: #2364775 |
| Master 2491 | Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? Have them sign up for a race. Some people won't work hard until they face the prospect of public failure. |
| 2009-08-24 8:48 AM in reply to: #2364775 |
| Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? I have a great deal of experience with being motivated as an athlete and motivating athletes as a coach. The best advice has been given already. Everyone is different. Some people respond to screaming in your face drill sergeant type stuff, and others need a gently nudge and loads of praise. The hard part if figuring out who is who. They will always surprise you. I think the best coaches are the ones who can get the person to do it for themselves. The person I consider my best coach ever is the same guy a buddy thinks is the worst… I was a player and he was a backup… the coach treated us the same, I just found a way to motivate myself to excel. My best coach motivator was a man who I hated more than anything you can imagine. Enough to spoil his Gatorade with pi$$ one game… but that is another story. In the gym, on the field, in class- all I thought about was how much I hated this guy and how I did not want to give him anything to criticize me about. I got much better and very strong and fit, but I quit in my junior year to travel to Europe (It takes a lot of energy to hate- good life lesson learned there too). So, the moral of the story children, is that coaches coach, and athletes motivate. Coaches influence athletes in ways that they can never predict. The best advice I can offer, from coach to coach, is to be steady, treat them all the same and earn their trust/ respect… then and only then will you be able to figure out what makes them tick. |
| 2009-08-24 8:49 AM in reply to: #2365959 |
| Subject: RE: Motivating people...how to? monkeyboy64 - 2009-08-24 8:43 AM Have them sign up for a race. Some people won't work hard until they face the prospect of public failure. x2 That is how I got my triathlon butt in gear..... good thinking monkeyboy! |
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