How to inspire your team to deliver their A-game?
The ability to inspire, motivate and channel your team members’ motivation to work at their full potential will always be in demand. What would you need to do to get there?
There is no one single recipe to encourage employees to perform better. But to get you thinking about it, here are some things to consider.
People are always looking for meaning in what they are doing. What is the value in their work? Employees are more inclined to step up their game if they see how their actions add up to advance the project or the company. So, find ways to show your team the results of their actions — be it a new outdoor ad or a product in stores.
Did you know that athletes’ motivation increases when they can clearly see how their individual effort makes the difference between victory or loss for their team? Well, it is no less important for your team at work. Everybody should know and value their contribution towards a common goal.
Employees will always be more motivated to work with a manager who genuinely cares for them — who knows their strengths what may inspire them. So, don’t just rely on your job title and professional expertise. You will have to possess and develop emphatic human qualities.
Everybody loves recognition and should receive it — not just for identifiable outcomes but also for a good sincere effort. Just remember, a well-timed word of support can go a long way.
Give objective feedback about your team members’ work. Moreover, go a few steps further and be ready to teach or coach them to acquire a new skill, to grow and develop professionally and personally.
Offering more freedom in an employee’s actions can be a great motivator. Drop the micro managing, outline the result you’re waiting for and let them draw the roadmap to get there. Obviously, you can check in from time to time and keep your finger on the pulse.
And last but not least, try new ways of working. Nowadays, with tools like Slack and others, not only can you offer your employees a more flexible schedule or chance to work partly from home, but also to communicate much more effectively.
Finally, make sure working together is fun. As we’ve already said in a previous posts — motivation is closely connected to happiness!