The Motivation Episode: How to Motivate Those You Lead at Church

Leading Saints Podcast

In this episode, Kurt Francom, executive director of Leading Saints, shares his thoughts on how leaders can handle the question that always seems to come up: "How can I motivate people?" Links Watch the Motivating Saints Virtual Conference with a 14-day pass to the Core Leader Library Subscribe to the Leading Saints Newsletter How LaVell Edwards Influenced His Team to be a Team of Leaders | An Interview With Paul Gustavson Listening to the Stories of Those We Lead | A Live Event with Robert Ferrell Elder Bednar: "A Conversation on Leadership" Newsletter message: "Try this in elders quorum" Share your thoughts in the Leading Saints community Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights Traditional notions of motivation may be misguided. Kurt cites a Church training with Elder Bednar where he asserted that motivation is essentially a false concept. Motivation can only come from the inside, not from external pressures or guilt. He highlights the importance of recognizing one's ego as a driving force in leadership and the need to create a culture of love and identity rather than relying on high expectations and shame. Kurt shares practical strategies for fostering motivation, such as building relationships, offering autonomy, and inviting community engagement. He emphasizes the significance of creating a supportive environment where individuals feel valued and connected. Ultimately, true motivation stems from understanding one's identity in Christ and fostering a culture of discipleship. Kurt encourages leaders to surrender their expectations and allow individuals to find their own paths to engagement, reinforcing the idea that leadership is about guiding others toward their divine potential rather than merely achieving specific metrics or goals. Leaders can embrace their roles with compassion and patience, recognizing that the journey of discipleship is a collective effort that requires understanding and support. 02:15 - Common Leadership Concerns 03:39 - Understanding Motivation Challenges 05:06 - Apathy and Engagement Post-COVID 06:20 - The Role of Ego in Leadership 08:15 - Rethinking the Problem of Motivation 09:41 - Elder Bednar's Perspective on Motivation 10:34 - The Impact of Ego on Leadership 12:30 - The Pressure of Leadership Expectations 13:02 - The Ineffectiveness of Guilt as Motivation 14:05 - Historical Example: World War Rationing 17:53 - The Importance of Inviting Solutions 18:14 - Building Relationships Over Numbers 20:23 - High Love vs. High Expectations 21:07 - Teaching Identity as a Motivational Tool 23:04 - The Role of the Temple in Identity 24:30 - Surrendering Motivation to Christ 26:16 - The Challenge of Leadership and Ego 28:24 - Practical Steps for Leaders 30:09 - Fostering Community and Relationships 32:06 - Offering Autonomy in Leadership 33:18 - Teaching Identity and Purpose 35:39 - The Long-Term Vision for Leadership 37:28 - Conclusion and Encouragement for Leaders The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences,