Inspiring People to Take Action

“If you can connect action to something emotional, people will stick with it.”

Most people don’t have a knowledge problem. They have a follow-through problem.

I see it all the time. I’ll finish a workshop or a talk, and people are fired up. They’re ready to change everything. Then Monday shows up. Work gets busy. Life takes over. And nothing changes.

That’s human nature. Changing habits is hard. Our brains are very good at talking us out of doing uncomfortable things. Clean the garage tomorrow. Start exercising next week. Have the hard conversation later. Before you know it, months go by.

I’ve learned that inspiring people to take action is about helping them connect the action to something that matters emotionally. They don’t actually need you to give them more information.

A man wrote me recently. He works long hours and is getting his MBA. He was exhausted one morning after dropping his daughter at school and wanted to go back to bed. Instead, he studied. Not because it was easy. Because he remembered why he was doing it. He was doing it for his family. That’s the key.

When people understand who they are doing something for, they’re more likely to do it. When they feel encouraged, not judged, they stick with it longer. When someone notices their effort and says, “You’re making progress,” it stays in their head.

I’ve been working out with a trainer for over 15 years. I still don’t want to go sometimes. But I’m scheduled so I show up. And I always feel better afterward. Better physically, mentally, and better about myself.

Encouragement matters. Repetition of encouragement matters even more. We do it naturally with our kids and grandkids, and we should do it more with employees, clients, and ourselves.

People already know what to do. They don’t need more lectures. They need reminders, encouragement, and someone to tell them they’re capable.

If you want people to take action, help them believe they can then keep reminding them until they do.