Before You Blame Motivation, Check Your Message
What to say when “just do it” isn’t working
The Frustrating Scenario
Your leader sets a big, bold goal for the team.
You gather everyone, share the vision, rally them with your most inspiring message, and leave the meeting feeling energized and optimistic.
But a week later?
Crickets.
No progress. No updates. You're left wondering if anyone even remembers what you said.
In the next meeting, you turn up the urgency. You remind everyone of the stakes. Heads nod. You think: Finally, we’re on track.
Then another week passes…
Still nothing.
So What's Going On?
You gave a rousing call to action! Why aren’t people more motivated? Why are you stuck micromanaging for the smallest bit of movement?
Here’s the thing:
If your focus is on lighting a fire under them, instead of sparking meaningful action, you're likely missing a key part of the message.
The 3-Part Formula for a Message That Moves People
Don’t just give the Why — follow it up with the What and the How.
🔥 WHY: Inspire with meaning
Help them understand not just why this goal is important, but why it matters to them.
That takes knowing your team — their motivations, goals, and values — and connecting the dots between this project and what’s meaningful to them.
🌟 WHAT: Paint a picture of success
What will it look like when this goal is met? Be specific.
What will you deliver? What changes? What impact will it have?
When will it be done, and how will you know you’ve succeeded?
🛠️ HOW: Give a clear plan of action
This is where many inspiring messages fall flat.
Don’t assume people know what to do. Assign roles, map out milestones, and invite input. Without clarity, even the most fired-up team will fizzle out fast.
Story Time: Inspiration Alone Isn’t Enough
I saw this play out with a leader who rolled out a company-wide, time-sensitive initiative.
They nailed the Why. People were genuinely excited and asking their managers how they could help!
But no one had told the other departments what they actually needed to do.
So the answer was: “Just keep doing your regular work.”
Oof. What a waste of all that inspiration!
While the project was eventually a success, the ripple effects stuck:
- People stopped paying attention to calls for all hands on deck, and a ‘not my job’ vibe started to grow.
- The core team felt like they were left to carry it alone.
Want Your Team to Follow Through?
You don’t have to over-function or over-explain to get your team into motion.
You can lead with heart and still drive results — by making sure your message includes:
- A clear Why that connects to what matters
- A specific What that defines success
- A collaborative How that shows them the way forward
When you communicate this way, accountability becomes shared.
And that’s when the real magic (and momentum) happens.
If you’re tired of repeating yourself, carrying the weight alone, or wondering why your team isn’t following through - let’s talk.
I offer free 30-minute strategy sessions to help women leaders like you craft clearer, more effective communication that actually moves people into action. We’ll pinpoint what’s getting in your way and map out one simple shift you can make right away.