A loud lesson in team motivation

If you want to motivate a group, you’d better be all in.

I learned that lesson the hard way some ten years ago – at a July 4th parade, of all places.

After the parade had passed by, I slowly followed on my bicycle with 10 or so other riders.

Our ranks grew as more bikers joined us. So did our enthusiasm as we rode past festive crowds.

In fact, my enthusiasm grew so much that I endeavored to lead the crowd in a group cheer.

This was in Columbus, Ohio, home of the Ohio State University, where Buckeye football fever runs strong year round.

For Buckeye fans, the easiest sure-fire cheer involves a solo shout of “O-H” – which is always followed by a fervent response of “I-O” from anyone within earshot.

Well, almost always.

When I tried the cheer with a big group of parade enthusiasts, my “O-H” got dead silence in return. The crowd just stared at me like I had quizzed them in some foreign language.

After riding on for a block, I managed to recover – enough to try the cheer again, this time a little louder.

“O-H.”

Again, silence. Painful silence. Ego-bruising silence.

Two city blocks later, I decided to try the cheer one last time.

But this time, I didn’t just tweak up the volume. I turned my bike to face the crowd, I looked left and right to get their attention, and I cued the crowd with a high-volume “Hey, everyone!”

Then I unleashed an “O-H” that was full-throated, full-commitment, and fully heard by all Buckeye fans within a fifty-yard radius.

The crowd went wild. “I-O!”

“O-H!” “I-O!”

“O-H!” “I-O!”

In years since, I’ve repeated this drill every time I’ve been in Columbus on July 4.

It always reminds me that group motivation can’t be a half-hearted effort.

Whether you’re in a parade or in a workplace, people respond best when the leader lets loose with confidence and conviction. The bicycle is optional.

By Tom Terez • Contact