Landmark Forum Leader Ria Bauhofer was recently interviewed by  Intermediair PW, a human resources magazine in the Netherlands. This article was translated from Dutch to English and sent by Landmark Graduates in the Netherlands.

Ria Bauhofer is director of Landmark Education. With trainings the company intends to create better opportunities for success, but also to achieve job satisfaction and grandeur. “Every serious manager should be interested in such things.”   ‘Often when I talk to people I get the impression that they compare motivation with a  hamster running faster in its wheel. That’s not how I consider motivation. It’s not about just doing things faster. It’s about that you’re being called upon and committed. Motivation means that you create one or more opportunities that inspire you and consequently support all you do, think, feel and say. In the Landmark Forum I recognised that I didn’t give my love to other people in order to protect myself. Later I came to the conclusion that loving other people was of greater value than preventing being harmed by them. Every time I wake up I am aware of the fact that I’m blessed to share love and care.’  

‘The most important thing in motivating people is communication. You have to be aware of their commitment, to know what they do on their ‘autopilot’ and what they want to create for themselves. Of course you meet resistance; people always have resistance, so did I. But I don’t focus on resistance, but on things people want to achieve. Every professional manager should be interested in this.’  ‘The participants in the Landmark Forum never join in based on what we say, but choose for themselves. And that’s always based on the recommendation of someone they rely on; a friend, a colleague or family member. Every company would be very jealous on the huge word of mouth promotion that we get. I myself was highly touched by what is achievable for people. That’s the very reason why I moved back from Germany – where I did the course - to Holland. I wanted that this type of education would also be offered here. ’ ‘The Landmark Forum takes three days from 9 AM to 10 PM. I don’t find this very intense. Nowadays people tend to party late after a working day, that’s intense! This is a course, a survey in which you investigate who you are, and more important, who you have been. Most people are fitter after the training compared to when they start it.’  Golden tip ‘The most important issue on the work floor is not what you tell people, but which starting point you chose. When I approach the employee based on solidarity, they know that I want them to win and to be successful.’