When my team’s motivation dips, I prioritize creating an environment where they feel empowered and valued. I start by encouraging autonomy, giving them ownership over projects and the freedom to explore new ideas. We hold open brainstorming sessions where no idea is too wild, fostering a culture of innovation. Professional development is key too – I offer resources that inspire fresh perspectives. Finally, I make time for 1:1 check-ins to understand their personal motivations and align projects with their strengths. This approach has consistently reignited creativity and driven results.

Good communication is the key to innovation,by encouraging team members to work together, share ideas, and collaborate on projects. Creating a work culture where cross-functional teams are the norm and where everyone's contributions are valued and using collaboration tools like Slack and Trello to facilitate communication and project management are ways to ignite creativity and innovation.

Giving team members the freedom to explore and experiment with new approaches and allowing them to take ownership of the overall project direction can help increase motivation amongst team members. Providing a platform for growth and learning by encouraging attendance at workshops, conferences etc. can be another motivator. Lunch and learn sessions to increase knowledge sharing in the team is a great way to open up new avenues for the team. Lastly, leading by example is critical. You need to demonstrate passion and enthusiasm in your own work and actively encourage a growth mindset.

Design a rewards and recognition program for parts of the project Encourage all team members to actively chase the R&R Highlight interesting areas of the project Recognise good performers at multiple stages of the project

To re-energize a demotivated team and stimulate creativity, the Six Thinking Hats technique by De Bono offers a playful and inclusive way to explore diverse perspectives. The technique encourages the team to think in different modes—creatively, critically, emotionally—within a structured process, shifting the environment to inspire new behaviors. Instead of focusing on individual limitations, this approach changes the system around them, fostering a safe space where all ideas are valued. By altering the environment, you spark fresh thinking and it changes the behavior - Kurt Lewin's B=f(P,E). Powerful questions like "What unconventional solutions haven't we explored yet?" further support this mindset, driving both innovation and engagement.