Aside from using my product, Motivational Maps, people ask me: how best do you motivate staff? In short, what tips can you offer? This is great because in a way it’s an acknowledgement that motivation is really critically important even when leaders don’t always want to pay attention to it, or invest in it.
What, then, are the best management tips for motivating others? Here are a few pointers – but first bear in mind that you want everybody in your organisation to be motivated because if they are, then a process of osmosis sets in, and everyone around feels it, wants it, and then credibility sets in and high energy is the order of the day.
Ten top tips then to use on a minute by minute basis.
Number 1: always be motivated yourself, and give the lead – it’s infectious. Do that corny but effective ritual first thing in the morning: look in the mirror and say, I feel great, I am full of energy, I am the conqueror. Tell yourself with conviction, then go out and live the dream.
Two: look for and find members of your team doing things right – catch them – praise them immediately.
Three: treat everybody with respect, which means – difficult lesson coming up – listen a lot. Yes, listen a lot, and stop the cackle.
Four: help your people learn – you know why you should be boss, but their view may be much more limited – limited to: if he’s in charge then I get this job – widen their horizons! Increases in learning produce increases in self-esteem and performance.
Five: make them feel they belong – they are part of your exclusive club – avoid the sense of cabals and inner circles.
Six: stop micro-managing with central directives, give them more control, allow them to do things their way.
Seven: acknowledge their ideas, publicly where possible, and reward achievement. Remember, ‘strokes’ are rewards too – see Nine.
Eight: give them a challenge – it’s challenging enough winning a contract – add to that in some way, and talk as if you know they can do it.
Nine: say thank you, and make strong eye contact when you do.
Ten: try to understand their motivations and feed them – review the above suggestions and work out which suit which individuals. Treat them personally.
Now with the above suggestions in your armoury – if you have time – go out and win that business. Remember: feed the motivations of yourself, and your team.
This is me. I’m completely normal. Completely. Don’t worry about those things I wrote. Shhhh. 