Page 28 - Perfect Phrases for Motivating and Rewarding

Chapter 3

A Positively Motivating

Environment

“Life is what we make it. Always has been, always will be.”
—Grandma Moses

otivation thrives under managers and supervisors who cre-
ate a positive atmosphere in which people feel supported,
Mvalued, and respected. A motivational work environment
is charged with energy. Working in an environment without motiva-
tion is similar to slogging through mud. You can have all the rah-rah
meetings and use all the positive slogans you want, but if you allow
an employee to be harassed or treated disrespectfully, your positive
efforts will appear hypocritical. Doing any job while pushing through
negativity takes more effort than it would take fueled by encourage-
ment, positive language and feedback, appreciation, and an overall
sense of team spirit.
A positive environment encourages risk-taking and allows room
for error as part of the process. Armand Pasquini, regional vice
president of Starwood Hotels, put it this way: “So many managers
are concerned about zero errors or doing things by the letter that
they stifle creativity and initiative. Early in my career, one manager
said something to me that had a profound impact and released my
creativity. Recognizing that my focus on not making mistakes was
holding me back, he said, ‘I dare you to make a mistake that I can’t fix.’

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