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Motivation – the art of getting things done through others
by Scott Wilson

“Some people find promotion, recognition, a feeling of ‘this couldn’t be done without you,’ or increased leadership responsibilities, as great motivation. The church has often underestimated this type of motivation.”

Motivation theory is as vast as it is long. The fact is, motivation of people in the church is in some need of attention. Some leaders have been concerned about manipulating people and on the other hand, have misused followers trust. How does the Christian leader motivate people and keep them focussed on the vision? This is an intriguing study, and one that needs some background and thought before we go too far. Stay with me as we start this journey.

What is meant by ”motivation”?
Some people say that it is about personality, a characteristic that resides in each of us and that it cannot be tapped, but a clear definition will reveal some interesting truths. Essentially, motivation is a willingness to exert high levels of effort towards goals, personal or organisational. Motivation is the label for the determinence of:
• The choice to initiate in a certain task,
• The choice to expend a certain amount of effort toward completion of that task,
• The choice to persist an expending effort over a period of time to complete the task.

Motivation is the search for a reason for a process of thinking that causes a person to act in a certain way. National Dictionary of Management says; Motivation is the processes and factors that cause people to act and behave in a certain way.

Motivation is the term used to describe processes both instinctive and rational, by which people seek to satisfy the basic drives, perceive needs, personal goals which then trigger human behaviour.
• Motive factors: motivation is about satisfying needs, drives, goals, desires, outcomes, pleasure versus pain, performance, response and effort.
• The concept of motivation at the centre: The stimulus, out of that – our drive – psychological need, desires and social needs.
• Response: behaviour and appropriate behaviour, outcomes, satisfying needs and desires.

In total, motivation consists of factors that drive us, the centre of us that determines the drive, andthe outcomes it produces. Getting motivation right leads to excellence and quality of work.