The Fear Factor -Managers and supervisors with weak leadership skills often resort to fear as a motivator. Fear of losing their job, fear of being berated in from of their peers, fear of being retaliated against...There are many fears that can be used to motivate a team like a sledge hammer.
Fear is undeniably effective in the short-term, but it will cause the strongest team members, or thoroughbreds as Dave Ramsey calls them, to leave and you will be left with donkeys (the weakest team members). Donkeys will take the abuse and continue to churn out mediocre work Ultimately the stress of working for one of these leaders results in high turn over and lack luster performance from a team of Eeyores. You can probably imagine the work environment surrounding that team with that kind of leader...
Money Talks-Only a fool would deny that money can be a motivator. A competitive pay is important to keep a team of thoroughbreds, but throwing money at them will not keep them for long if there is not good leadership in place. If a team member is more interested in the all mighty $ than what kind of work they will be doing, the company's values, and the team environment, then they will always be looking for the next big check. Caution to leaders: there is no loyalty in an employee that lets you know money is the route to their heart.
Recognition- Recognizing both the good and the bad performance of the team creates a framework for the team. It tells them what is expected and what is not acceptable. Openly recognizing both consistently helps your team trust that you are being honest and real with them.
Being heard-Your team needs to know their requests, complaints, praises, etc are not falling on def ears. Give them feedback. Letting them know you hear them, even if you are not able to give them the answer they want makes them feel valued. They feel respected and valued when you give them a voice in company decisions.
Autonomy- (The quality or state of being independent, free, and self-directing.) If you have worked for a micro-manager you know it can be very demotivating. A team that is given the ability to manage their work without constant supervision has job satisfaction and it quickly separates the race horses from the Eeyores.
Shared Vision-In my experience, shared vision is the greatest motivator and the best tool in a leader's belt. It is the golden Swiss-army knife multi-functional tool of all tools! Thoroughbreds want to follow strong leaders that communicate the vision and are capable of getting them excited about the vision.
A team environment is a happy place to work. A team pulling together to reach the same goal is a powerful force. The excitement and energy spreads through the team and creates its own momentum. Leaders should invest large amounts of time and energy into creating a shared vision the team can get motivated about.
Inspiration is a little harder to nail for a leader. You can find ways to push people to work but using inspiration to get them excited about it is true artistry and requires being very intentional.
Think about all the things that inspire you. This is an emotional reaction, which should tell you as a leader that it requires a genuine heart-posture from you. It cannot be done from a place of manipulation or deceit. Inspiration is where persuasion and passion meet to create an emotional response. In the hands of a good leader the power of inspiration takes motivation to the next level.
First, leaders should recognize that you cannot truly inspire an audience that does not care about you. Talk to any writer in Hollywood or on the New York Times Best Seller List and they will tell you that the audience has to feel something about the character before the story can resound with the viewer/reader. Your team will not be inspired if they do not see something in you that they respect and care about. Be intentional about being someone that they see:
*They can trust.
*They want to follow (lead by example. Do what you want them to do.)
*They know cares about them.
*They respect and they know respects them.
****They know is excited about the same vision they are being asked to be excited about!
Simply seeing you fight for what is right, looking out for them, and being a good person has their attention and can be inspiring in and of itself. Seeing you own your mistakes and work to correct them can be inspiring to your team when they struggle with their mistakes. It is powerful.
Your mission statement as a company, as a department, as an individual should speak to who you are and what you are here to do and can be used to help inspire the team. Tell your team the story of where the company came from, what it has gone through, and where it will go. Your story is an inspirational tool. Celebrate victories, small and big, every chance you get. This is inspiring to your team and it motivates them to be the next victory to be recognized.
Please feel free to comment ways you have inspired and motivated others! Challenge yourselves to motivate and inspire someone this week. Be intentional!!!
Scriptures
Thessalonians 5:11 Ephesians 4:29 James 4:6 Hebrews 10:24-25 Proverbs 12:25
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