In his new book, Good Leaders Ask Great Questions (Center Street/Hachette Book Group), SUCCESS columnist John C. Maxwell discusses ways to help people complete tasks. Maxwell points out that these people don’t know the joy of finishing, their self-esteem erodes because they prove inadequate, they sabotage their own success, and they lose the trust and respect of others. To raise them up, he suggests:
• Showing them the big picture. Help people see that they will have a more positive future by completing tasks.
• Holding them accountable. People who have a habit of quitting often don’t suffer the consequences of doing so. Change that.
• Helping them schedule their time. People who don’t finish are often disorganized or undisciplined. Give them tools for scheduling tasks.
• Providing a work partner. Sometimes pairing non-finishers with highly motivated people can help them follow through.
• Rewarding only finished work. Praise effort but don’t reward it.