This Quick Motivation Technique is about what to do when you're trying to choose the most important skill or trait to improve to make you more successful. It could be you, or someone on your team, or someone you care about. What do you do when you're trying to choose the most important skill or trait to develop to make you more successful?

The technique is inspired from an article on our website about Richard St. John titled "Eight Great Traits," and it also features his video.

St. John spent over 7 years in research and interviewed over 500 leading figures from all walks of life. He condensed his findings into 4 minutes, and 8 key traits.

For this technique, I'll focus on my thoughts about #5 on St. John's list, which is PUSH.

He leads this section of his talk with a quote from David Gallo, a prominent marine scientist, who said:"Push yourself physically, mentally, you gotta push, push, push!"

It reminds me about Winston Churchill who famously gave one of the shortest commencement speeches ever, and also one of the most memorable:

Here is Churchill's entire speech:

"Never, never, never, never, never give up."

Then he turned around and took his seat.

I don't know about you, but I'm challenged to come up with a 7-word speech that is more useful than that. It's actually 3 words. He just repeats the first word 5 times.

Part of the power comes Churchill's speech comes from experience, reputation and character. But it also comes from the focus and commitment on what St. John calls PUSH-it's about focusing on what trait matters most. Not a hundred traits, not 20 traits. Benjamin Franklin famously focused on 13 self-improvement traits as detailed in his autobiography. St. John narrows to eight. In this case, Churchill picks one. He speaks about the importance of PUSH, based on his experience leading Britain from the verge of decimation to victory in WWII.

Churchill encourages us to develop what matters most. And when you need it most, do it. Always. Don't NOT it. Ever.

Let's go back to St. John's talk, where he touches on the lighter side of this trait, and then we'll set forth a method to put this into action.

St. John's section on PUSH has my personal favorite quote from his presentation. He says "It's not always easy to push yourself, and that's why they invented mothers."

It's humorous, but also practical. Not all of us are as strong, committed, and confident as Churchill. Most of us could use a little help. It would help for us to be PUSHED, in a good way, to help us PUSH ourselves.

That's what I like about St. John's observation on this point. He implies, even when it comes to pushing yourself, that it's okay to get help.

It's more than okay. Put it on your to-do list.

Here's the action tool to put this practical use:

1. Pick your #1 trait that you want to improve. Maybe you'll pick something from his list, maybe you'll pick something else. Give it thought, and pick the #1 trait that is most important for you to improve, and that you will commit to demonstrating daily in your own behavior with others.

2. Pick someone in your life-a trusted friend or colleague-who you can recruit to help PUSH you to develop that trait. We're doubling up here, we're using the PUSH trait to help PUSH you to develop your priority trait. And we're PUSHING you to get help.

Also, put a system in place to track your progress. Give yourself a daily rating or a weekly rating on a scale of 1-10 on your effort and progress.

This is where your accountability partner is so helpful-double your accountability by letting them know your ratings, hearing their feedback and advice, and use that to keep making progress.

Working with a partner makes it more effective and more enjoyable than going it alone.

Also in my experience you'll find they often get inspired by your focus and openness, and they'll ask you to reciprocate by helping them with something THEY are working on too.

So much the better. The motivation for both of you spirals up.

The 8 traits can also serve as a handy checklist of 8 reminders, to guide our own thoughts and actions and to hold ourselves accountable for how we deal with others.

Please share this article with your friends and colleagues!

John Ullmen Ph.D. is a business author, speaker and internationally acclaimed executive coach. His writing has been featured in major media outlets such as MSNBC, the Los Angeles Times and Harvard Business Review. He lectures on leadership at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He was a finalist for the Award for Teaching Excellence as determined by graduate students, and his elective course was voted one of the "Top Ten" in the student experience. His speeches, seminars and consulting focus areas include the art and science of motivation, leadership, teamwork, conflict, and communication. He lectures on leadership at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Visit his site featuring motivation techniques and videos: http://MotivationRules.com/. Sign up for the newsletter and receive a free copy of Dr. Ullmen's "Motivation DNA Decoded" document on how to motivate anyone http://www.MotivationRules.com " John began his career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a lead systems engineer for a top-secret Joint Chiefs of Staff intelligence program. He holds a B.S. from the USAF Academy, a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from UCLA.