The secret to giving great pep-talks - you have to tap into people's emotions. 

Why? 

1. People need pep-talks when they struggle w/negative emotions.  
2. People act on their emotions. 
3. Emotions are powerful motivational tools.
4. People will act to avoid negative emotions. 

So don't try to change the way the person feels. Use their emotions. Play on their emotions. Turn their feelings into productive behaviors. 

When giving pep-talks, leaders make three (3) common mistakes -

1. They give a superficial pep-talk, 
2. They try to change how people feel, or
3. Their own emotions infect the pep-talk 

When you try to change how someone feels, they tune you out. They think, "you don't get it" or "that's easy for you to say!"  

You're better off acknowledging their emotions. Let them know they've been heard. Empathize with them. 

CAUTION! When leaders give a pep-talk, they're often acting on their emotions. When giving a pep-talk, managers need to check their emotions at the door. 

CAUTION! An angry manager can't give an effective pep-talk to an anxious team. 

Their anger collides with the team's anxiety and chaos ensues. The manager may feel better but the team will simply roll their eyes (or worse). 

Go to Pep-talk best practices.