Everyone wants a motivated team. Leaders dream of employees who show up energized, take initiative, and bring their best every day. But too many businesses are still waiting for motivation to strike—like it’s something magical that happens before the work begins.
Here’s the truth: motivation doesn’t come before action. It comes from action.
Motivation Follows Action
Most people believe they need to feel motivated before they do something. But in reality, it’s the other way around. Taking action is what actually fuels motivation.
I was speaking with someone recently who shared that he and his wife consistently come up with amazing ideas. They start strong, filled with excitement, but then… nothing. They never fully follow through. Why? Because they wait to feel inspired before moving forward.
But whenever they do take that first step, he told me, the momentum builds. They start seeing results. And that success is what sparks their motivation to keep going.
Start Small, Start Now
Motivation starts with movement.
When you get up in the morning, don’t sit around waiting for inspiration to hit. Start with any small action. It could be as simple as:
- A five-minute meditation
- A quick workout
- A journaling session
- Asking yourself a key question: “How am I going to show up today?”
Even the smallest action sets things in motion.
You’ve heard the phrase, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” The same goes for building energy and motivation. Just take the first bite.
A Personal Example: Just Press Record
In January 2017, I had zero videos on YouTube. For three straight quarters of 2016, I had “Start a YouTube channel” written on my business plan. Nothing happened. Until one morning, I told my son, “Set up the camera. We’re doing a video.”
That first action led to a spark. And now, over seven years later, I’ve released a Monday morning video every single week — 500 videos and counting.
All because I took that first step.
How Leaders Can Motivate Their Teams
So, what does this mean for you as a leader?
If you want to create a team of motivated employees, do this:
- Give them purpose. Let them see how their role impacts something bigger.
- Start them with one small action. Assign a simple task. Something achievable.
- Build momentum. Stack actions. Recognize progress. Keep things moving.
Before long, you’ll see your team take ownership. They’ll show up with smiles, take initiative, and bring energy to everything they do.
Final Thoughts
Motivated employees are not born. They are built through movement, ownership, and purpose. Help your team take that first step. Then guide them as the energy builds.
And remember, motivation is not about waiting. It’s about doing.
Wishing you a productive and powerful week ahead.
COACH MICHAEL DILL is an Award-Winning Certified Business Coach, global speaker, and published author. He is a proud ActionCOACH Franchise Partner as well as the President of Power & Ice Wealth Creation—a strategic leadership company that works with business owners, leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs to both develop a systematized and structured organization while accelerating their mindset, efficiencies, and effectiveness to grow both personally and professionally to achieve extraordinary results. He brings more than 40 years of business and entrepreneurial experience in his leadership, team training, and mentoring practice.