The Sports
Psychology Blog
Today's Sports Psychology blog looks at the challenge facing Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez in motivating wealthy Premier League players.
Football: Lawrie Sanchez - The Motivational Key
It's a challenge facing all Premier League managers. How do you motivate wealthy players? Players who can buy whatever they like. When they like. Who already have it all. Made for life in their mid-twenties.
Lawrie Sanchez is saying that he is asking his Fulham players, What do they want to be remembered for? What kind of stories do they want to tell their grand-children'? What are they playing the game for? He is searching for fresh ways to motivate them.
It's right for Sanchez to ask these questions. If money is the only motivation for players, then a manager is limited in how he can connect with his players. The wise thing for any manager to do in this situation is to try to understand each players core values. That is those things, beyond money, that make them tick. That make them unique human beings. Sanchez should sit down with each of his players and carefully quiz them as to what are their values.
He should ask them about moments in their lives that have inspired them, moved them, made them feel proud. Moments when they felt good about themselves. Then he should ask them what it was about those moments that was so memorable. Why were they moved? What made them feel so good?
From this process both Lawrie Sanchez and his players they will get a clearer picture of their values. The things deep down that make them tick. Be they a sense of justice, fairness, honesty, warmth, family, knowledge, appreciation, excellence, service, challenge, humour, creativity and so on. There are many values.
This information thus offers him the insight he needs in knowing how to motivate his players. Tap into their core values. When this value is triggered, the person feels good about themselves. So then work out with the player how those values can be met. On or off the field. What would need to happen for the core value or values to be honoured?
Through this process, the player will feel understood. How many individuals can claim to be understood by their manager? Understood and included. As a result of this emotional satisfaction the player will desire to give the best of themselves in return. Their career values may not match their managers achievement values, but at least they will have a greater sense of purpose about their work. And belonging. Now that would be something to tell the grand-children.
