#71: Why 93% of People Never Say Thank You (And What It's Costing Us) | Dr. E. Scott Geller

He's Spent 56 Years Studying What Actually Motivates Human BehaviorDr. E. Scott Geller isn't your typical psychologist. As Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech and founder of the Actively Caring for People (AC4P) Movement, he's spent over five decades proving that gratitude, leadership, and self-motivation aren't soft concepts — they're science. His TEDx talk on self-motivation has been watched by more than 12 million people, and he's authored over 55 books on applied behavioral science.Why Most Leaders Get Feedback (and Motivation) Completely WrongIn this episode, Dr. Geller breaks down the ABC model of behavior (Activators, Behavior, Consequences) and reveals why most managers rely on negative reinforcement without realizing it's quietly killing motivation on their teams. He introduces the COACH method — Care, Observe, Analyze, Communicate, Help — as a practical framework for giving feedback that actually changes behavior, whether you're leading a team, coaching a client, or raising kids. You'll also hear the research-backed difference between managers who control behavior and leaders who inspire self-motivation, and why humility is the starting point for both.What You'll Walk Away WithIf you've ever wondered why some people show up energized and others just show up, this conversation gives you the answer. Dr. Geller unpacks the three C's of self-motivation — Choice, Competence, and Community — and explains why interpersonal gratitude (not just feeling grateful, but expressing it) is one of the most underused leadership tools available. You'll leave with a clear framework for building a culture of actively caring, whether that's in your workplace, your home, or your own leadership development.Ready to Lead with More Humility, Gratitude, and Self-Motivation?Listen now to learn how applied behavioral science can transform the way you lead, coach, and connect and subscribe to the MPWR Coaching Podcast for more conversations at the intersection of leadership, culture, and human potential.Ready to Go Deeper?If this episode challenged you, join Eric and Dawn for a live virtual masterclass at mpwrcoaching.com/masterclass, where they unpack leadership tools to help you build a culture worth being part of.Want more tools to accelerate your growth?Head over to mpwrcoaching.com where you'll find free resources, game-changing books, and programs designed to elevate your mindset, build resilience, and transform the way you lead from the inside out.🔥 Subscribe to the MPWR Podcast on your favorite platform.📲 Follow Eric Pfeiffer across social media (links available on the website).🌐 Access our free mini course here!🔗 Check out our Leadership Framework System🎧 Enjoyed today's episode?If this conversation challenged or inspired you, we'd love for you to help us spread the impact.Share it with a fellow leader, subscribe so you never miss an episode and leave us a quick review on Apple!Your reviews help more leaders discover the MPWR Podcast and step into the influence they were made for.Be the leader YOU want to follow. See you next time.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.