Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

190. Motivation Matters: How to Leverage What People Already Want


Listen Later

How to turn latent motivation into fuel for change.


If you want to be a changemaker, you’ll have to convince others to join your cause. But according to Dan Heath, persuading your audience isn’t about creating new motivation — it’s about leveraging the motivation that’s already there.

“The most important fuel for any change effort is motivation,” says Heath, the number-one New York Times bestselling author of Reset: How to Change What's Not Working. Instead of struggling to persuade people to want what you want, Heath suggests finding where your goals overlap with the things they already desire. "Before you even get to persuasion, if you can just tap and unleash the energy that's already there, you've already catapulted yourself toward success,” he says.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Heath and host Matt Abrahams explore how to create more compelling communication using “leverage points,” or as Heath says, “where a little bit of effort yields a disproportionate return.” Whether getting buy-in from one teammate or achieving change across an entire organization, Heath shares practical tips for turning latent motivation into an engine for change.

Episode Reference Links:

  • Dan Heath
  • Dan’s Book: Reset: How to Change What's Not Working 
  • Ep.164 Rethinks: Using "Pre-suasion" to Influence Others
  • Ep.49 Make Numbers Count: How to Communicate Data Effectively  

Connect:

  • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
  • Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
  • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
  • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
  • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
  • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (02:35) - The Power of Storytelling
  • (05:45) - Leverage Points for Change
  • (09:08) - Wasted Resources & Motivation
  • (12:21) - Latent Desire in Systems
  • (14:29) - Communicating Progress
  • (18:06) - The Final Three Questions
  • (26:06) - Conclusion

  • ********
    Thank you to our sponsors.
     These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    This episode is brought to you by
    Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

    Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication TechniquesBy Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7

    4.7

    702 ratings


    More shows like Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

    View all
    TED Talks Daily by TED

    TED Talks Daily

    11,029 Listeners

    The McKinsey Podcast by McKinsey & Company

    The McKinsey Podcast

    390 Listeners

    The Look & Sound of Leadership by Essential Communications - Tom Henschel

    The Look & Sound of Leadership

    1,163 Listeners

    Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

    Coaching for Leaders

    1,462 Listeners

    HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

    HBR IdeaCast

    164 Listeners

    TED Business by TED

    TED Business

    1,105 Listeners

    Cold Call by HBR Presents / Brian Kenny

    Cold Call

    195 Listeners

    Women at Work by Harvard Business Review

    Women at Work

    1,377 Listeners

    HBS Managing the Future of Work by Harvard Business School

    HBS Managing the Future of Work

    106 Listeners

    Inside the Strategy Room by McKinsey & Company

    Inside the Strategy Room

    168 Listeners

    Confident Business English by Anna Connelly

    Confident Business English

    153 Listeners

    Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

    Coaching Real Leaders

    673 Listeners

    The So What from BCG by Boston Consulting Group BCG

    The So What from BCG

    219 Listeners

    HBR On Strategy by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Strategy

    81 Listeners

    HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Leadership

    165 Listeners