Imagine being in a room with a dozen other people, each of whom has a different level of visual acuity. Everyone in the room is asked to remove his or her eyeglasses or contact lenses and exchange them with someone else. Suddenly the world becomes a blur. What was once clear is now distorted. You feel awkward and uncomfortable, maybe even dizzy and nauseous.

The speaker now projects a slide onto the screen in the front of the room and asks you to describe what you see. You squint. You look over, under and around the lenses. You think that you see an image. It looks like a photo with a few words underneath. But you have no idea what the words are – or if they are really words at all. (Unfortunately for us aging baby boomers, this situation is too real and happens more and more!)

We each have six attitudes. These attitudes, or values clusters, are really nothing more than the lenses through which we view the world. We see and understand very clearly a few, usually two, of these attitudes. These two attitudes we have learned to value more than others through our unique life’s experiences. Two of the other attitudes we may actually judge negatively depending on our experiences (or the lack of positive ones).

What are the six attitudes?
     Theoretical - An appreciation for learning, knowledge, truth.
     Utilitarian - A desire for wealth and expecting returns on all investments of time, energy and money.
     Aesthetic - An appreciation for form, harmony, beauty, environment.
     Social - A desire to help other, avoid conflicts; willing to sacrifice own needs for the good of others.
     Individualistic - Emphasis on being all you can be, winning, being in control of your own destiny.
     Traditional - Live and willing to die for a system for living, many times religious or political.

How can you use these attitudes to motivate others?

The fact is each person is different in the way he or she becomes and sustains being motivated. By learning first to recognize what motivates you, you have the opportunity to fuel those positive motivators and avoid or subdue the negative ones. Just as importantly you can now begin to understand what makes other people feel good, begin to build endorsement and learn to “motivate” them by helping them to meet their needs. Only after you understand the six hidden motivators of people, can you now begin to understand what motivates others.

FREE Offer!   What are your value clusters?  How do you mesh or conflict with others at work, in your family, or in your choice of career? Contact us today to receive your Free Response Code for a complimentary Personal Interests, Attitudes and Values Self-Assessment.