Every one of us, in reality, has two people inside: The person we are today and the person we can become tomorrow and in the future.

We go to work every day, are never late or absent, earn a promotion; and receive occasional raises. We and our work are far above satisfactory. That makes us the person who is well liked by our employer, our family, and ourselves.

But there is also another person in us. It is the person who, when properly motivated and exposed to the encouraging information, can narrow the gap that exists between his habitual performance patterns and his maximum potential.

The development of people, whether directed by someone else or by us ourselves, is a never-ending process. To the productive and well-managed company, this is as important as its advertising.

The development of staff is a really enormous area for additional profit that will mutually affect the employer and his employees. The development of people does not, by any stretch of the imagination, involve exploitation or manipulation of human beings. They, themselves, benefit as much or more than does the employer.

By exposing them to the information that develops them as persons, we help them reach into their deep reservoirs of ability and bring more of it to the surface. Consequently, they have more spontaneous skills and abilities to bring to the table, whether that "table" is at work, at home, at church, or school.

To motivate human beings is not to force-feed them. They are at all times free to reject or ignore that to which they are exposed. But they don't; they come back for more.

We cannot motivate others; that's something can have to do by themselves. However, we can set the motivational climate and they'll respond, not because they have to, but because they want to.

Now, wouldn't you rather have a well-oiled, highly motivated individual functioning at his (or her) maximum potential on your team?

Remember: When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.

© Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW

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Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts seminars, lectures, webinars, and writes articles on his theme: "... helping you maximize your potential." He offers management, marketing, and parenting resources at Maximizing Your Potential blog.