Often times we have lofty goals and even when we are good at motivating others towards those long range goals, it can be hard for people to stay motivated. If we want to build something that stands the test of time, we need to help ”scaffold” along the people on our teams and in our organizations. Cathy mentioned that this is often used by teachers to help students progress and that we can learn to do this as leaders. One way to do this is to look for ways to celebrate the micro-milestones along that journey. The building of this amazing structure pictured above was accomplished with many micro-milestones and looking for ways to celebrate those small victories has the power to propel our teams onto greater success that can outlive us and our influence. We can learn what those micro-milestones are by understanding each of the steps that we need to complete our goal, but also by learning more about our team members and what motivates them. We may need to stop and ask them what they need to be successful, how we can help them, what their personal/professional goals are, and many other questions. The more we understand, the more we can celebrate the achievements of others and build something that surpasses our greatest hopes.
Full episode with Dr. Cathy Cavanaugh available at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/that-all-might-be-edified-discussions-on-servant-leadership/id1598799300?i=1000548936569