Motivational speakers know how to pull at our heartstrings to get us to do something that we may not be fully invested in otherwise. In doing so they tend to follow a theory known as the path-goal theory. The goals of motivational speakers and path-goal theory are essentially the same. They strive to increase the performance of a follower by doing things that can compensate for the deficiencies of the follower (Northouse, 2021). This theory is leader-centric because it leans heavily on leaders to be able to motivate followers to be productive (Northouse, 2021).
I have seen this form of leadership in my own life by a guy named Todd Durkin. He is a personal trainer for many professional athletes. A couple of the athletes he worked with during their careers are Drew Brees and Ladanian Tomlinson. Along with his training, he is a motivational speaker. He does anything from keynote speeches to podcasts to writing books. I don’t know how effective all motivational speakers are but Todd Durkin is effective. I always loved listening to him, and he made me desire to work harder. I want to discuss some of the things that make him effective at what he does. The aspects that make people want to follow his directions are his infectious energy, his knowledge of health and fitness, his humility and willingness to learn, and his catchy slogans.
If you haven’t guessed it by now Todd Durkin strives to motivate people to live a healthy life. The first thing that I ever noticed about Todd is that he has so much energy. This energy starts with his large smile that seems to engulf his entire face. Along with his face being lit up with this smile, he has infectious body language. You could mute this guy and his smile and body language would give you the desire to be a better person. He has big exciting movements. When you unmute him his voice is that of electricity. He speaks in a voice filled with gravel, and never fails to drop bombs of wisdom. The way he talks is stereotypical of an energetic coach in a sports film as they plan the game-winning play, or drive.
A close second to his energy is his knowledge, coupled with his willingness to learn. Todd Durkin has so much knowledge. He was a massage therapist before becoming a well-known personal trainer (Durkin & Yorkey, 2021). He also has a podcast called the Impact podcast. If you ever listen to a season or two of this podcast you start to see that Todd has what seems to be an unlimited number of mentors who have taught him things throughout the years. With all of this knowledge, he is always striving to learn, which is evident when listening to him on his podcast.
The last I want to mention that increases his effectiveness in motivating his followers is his catchy slogans. He has quite a few of them but the two that I will, possibly, never forget are, “Get your mind right” and “Live a life worth telling a story about” (Durkin & Yorkey, 2021). The reason slogans make him effective is that they are extremely catchy and anytime I would doubt myself they would pop into my head and increase my motivation. He utilizes them a perfect amount too. He says them frequently enough that they will stick in your head, but not too much for them to become annoying.
Through these methods that I have discussed Todd checks off each of the basics of path-goal theory. Through his knowledge he helps to define your health and fitness goals, through his books and podcast he clarifies the path and helps remove obstacles, and lastly he provides support through his infectious excitement and unforgettable slogans (Northouse, 2021).
Reference:
Durkin, T., & Yorkey, M. (2021). Get your mind right: 10 keys to unlock your potential and ignite your success. BakerBooks.
Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory & Practice (9 ed.). Thousaund Oaks, California: Sage Publications, Inc
Hello, love this post! Your blog entry about Todd Durkin’s motivational leadership style and its alignment with the path-goal theory is fascinating. Todd Durkin seems like a dynamic and influential figure, especially in the realm of personal training and motivation. I’m intrigued by his use of catchy slogans, such as “Get your mind right” and “Live a life worth telling a story about.” It’s clear that these slogans have had a significant impact on your motivation.
I’m curious to know more about how Todd Durkin applies his knowledge and infectious energy to address specific challenges or obstacles that individuals might face on their health and fitness journey. Additionally, how does he tailor his approach to different followers with varying health and fitness goals? Thanks for sharing!
Todd Durkin’s leadership style, as described, aligns with the path-goal theory, aiming to enhance followers’ performance by compensating for their deficiencies. His infectious energy, extensive knowledge, continuous learning mindset, and catchy slogans, such as “Get your mind right” and “Live a life worth telling a story about,” contribute to his effectiveness. Through his dynamic approach, he provides direction, removes obstacles, and offers support, embodying the principles of the path-goal theory in motivating individuals to achieve their health and fitness goals.