The great speaker, Zig Ziglar, once said, “People often say motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.” And he couldn’t be more right!

Recognizing and motivating people for doing a good job seems easy, yet so many people don’t do it. To effectively lead, you’ve got to look at motivation as a strategy for getting results, and build in daily activities that help build this discipline. Start with the attitude that motivating employees is a priority worth pursuing each and every day. By staying consistent with your motivation, you’ll build a culture of people who are actually engaged and enthusiastic about their jobs.

Build “motivator” into your leadership style.
When people think of your leadership style, do they think of you as a motivator? If not, you should consider why they don’t — and how to become one! It takes work and effort to be a motivational leader, but by making the commitment to encourage and help others daily, you will begin to see positive changes in their work day and in your own.

Set a daily goal.
At the start of each day, perhaps during your commute to work or while you’re in the shower, think about things you can do to motivate those around you. What’s going to kick your people into high gear? What small gesture will leave them feeling good about themselves, thinking in fresh, productive ways, and achieving their maximum potential? Make it your goal to make a positive difference at least once a day, and make a habit of it. Soon, you’ll start to see just how many people you can affect, and how quickly their motivation and enthusiasm rise.

Stick with it.
Motivation isn’t a medicine, capable of providing a quick fix. For it to be effective, you’ve got to use motivation like a daily vitamin. It needs to be a habit that you stick to each and every day. If you do that, you will create a positive environment, instill balance, maximize productivity, and deliver tangible results over time among those you lead. That means you’ve got to relentlessly motivate in the bad times as well as the good times.

As with all your strategies for growth and goal achievement, stay the course and you’ll reap the rewards. Keep your people up and going by showing them that you won’t be deterred or derailed even when things get tough. Do this, and not only will you fuel the engine that keeps your organization going, you’ll also start building a legacy as someone who really knows how to motivate a team.

What are some small ways to motivate that have a big impact?