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As a leader, you must understand your own motivations as well as those of your group members. Are they participating in your organization to become more knowledgeable about a specific academic or professional field? Is their participation a recreational or entertainment outlet - a relief from the rigors of studying? If you can determine the source of an individual’s motivation, you can begin to unleash his or her energies and ideas and maximize that member’s potential. As a leader, learn to look beyond a person’s current abilities and identify potential that could be developed. You can increase a person’s motivation by: increasing the rewards and/or reducing the time or resource costs they must put in. Give members an opportunity to use individual talents that may benefit the organization. If someone wants to go into advertising, ask if they want to coordinate your publicity campaigns. Be positive! Be appreciative of suggestions made by committee members. If you seem indifferent to members’ opinions, your committee may lose interest. Start delegating tasks to your members. As they are successful in carrying out these tasks, give them more responsibility. Encourage them to make their needs and wants known to you. The following methods of motivation tend to be “universal!” Try these with all your members: Use people’s NAMES

• Give titles for prestige
• Be courteous & respectful
• Give individual attention
• Keep members informed
• Listen to others
• Be fair, honest, consistent
• Involve members in goal setting
• Clarify your expectations
• Serve them food
• Have little contests
• Use teambuilding

Motivation comes from inner needs, drives and goals. As a leader, your job is to tap into these needs to motivate others. Remember, that leaders are not solely responsible for motivation. They are one of the sources, but members must want to act and must motivate themselves as well. A low level of motivation doesn’t necessarily mean bad leadership. First, people will do more readily those things they have strong reasons for doing. (Do they want it desperately? Do they feel that it is necessary? Do they feel it is in their best interest?) Second, if you are to be effective in inspiring and motivating others, you must understand what they want and need, and then clarify these in terms of the organizational goals.

WHY DO STUDENTS GET INVOLVED?

There are four basic motivations for getting involved on campus.

1. Security - acceptance, routine activities
2. New experiences - new people, social situations
3. Recognition - need to feel important
4. Response - feel helpful, understand people

Information adapted from Occidental College-Office of Student Life

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