Thursday, November 6, 2014
LEADERSHIP - TIPS TO MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES (Part 2)
One of the most frequent leadership questions EffectiveCommunication.com.au (EC) is asked is: “How can I motivate my employees?”
There is no simple answer to this question, especially since motivation comes from inside us. Therefore, what we believe leaders are really asking is: “What actions can I take and what environment can I create that will unleash my team’s potential and create positive energy?”
Now, that is a question to which we have many suggestions. There are ten (10) of them we would like to share with you. The first five (5) were sent to you last week and the next five (5) you can read below.
Note: If you missed last week's newsletter you can view the first five (5) suggestions by visiting our blog.
6. Training ManiaThere is no simple answer to this question, especially since motivation comes from inside us. Therefore, what we believe leaders are really asking is: “What actions can I take and what environment can I create that will unleash my team’s potential and create positive energy?”
Now, that is a question to which we have many suggestions. There are ten (10) of them we would like to share with you. The first five (5) were sent to you last week and the next five (5) you can read below.
Note: If you missed last week's newsletter you can view the first five (5) suggestions by visiting our blog.
There are a number of positive reasons to enable professional training. We will highlight five.
The first is that workplace training increases the quality of output.
The second is that well-trained team members are more productive.
The third is that better trained teams have more bandwidth and a great ability to take on more complicated initiatives.
The fourth reason is that bench strength is increased, which can lead to better succession planning and less drama if turnover is experienced.
The final reason is that training is an essential retention tool for keeping high-performers
7. Match Décor with Culture
The physical environment in which people work can greatly influence their demeanor and contributions.
Choose colors, desks, signs, and lighting that amplify your organisation’s culture (or desired culture). In other words, if you want an ultra-professional team, have a professional environment. If you want a high-energy team, notch up those colors and get modern with your furniture.
8. Coach Top Performers
A leader’s time is precious. As such, give it to the most deserving people on your team.
This means focusing on your top performers and high-potential team members. From a humanistic standpoint we gravitate toward helping (and spending a boatload of time with) our poorest performers. They also tend to be the squeaky wheels in the office.
This may sound harsh, but it is time to free yourself from using the majority of your coaching and development time on poor performers.
The time that leaders spend with low performers typically delivers a lousy return-on-investment. Instead, invest your precious time on your most valuable resources – your best performers and your future top talent. In the process, your added attention will motivate your best people and help the overall team to soar even higher.
9. Be a Visionary Leader
This ties back to “communicate like crazy” (part 1) from the aspect of sharing important information with your team.
The critical information in this instance involves three components: Where your organisation is going; why your organisation is going there; and how each team member fits into your organisation’s journey.
While many good leaders communicate the first two items, the best leaders share all three (i.e., the where, the why, and the how).
If you want to work with the most motivated group of people possible, help them to clearly understand the direction of the organisation, the logic behind the strategic direction, and just how they will significantly contribute to the team’s ultimate success.
10. Celebrate Wins
Famed ‘UCLA’ American Football coach Red Sanders was fond of saying: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing!”
We all like to win, yet frequently leaders only notice losses and errors. The odds are good that your team members are doing a LOT more right than they are wrong. Catch those right moves.
Figure out a way to celebrate wins and positive contributions. Better yet, ask your team how they want to celebrate. Their suggestions may surprise you.
Celebration lifts the human spirit. It also builds team morale and sets a positive tone in the workplace.
Our strong recommendation is celebrate more. You may just find a more motivated team as a result of your celebratory actions.
Bottom Line: Motivation comes from within us. As such, the best leaders find ways to unlock more of what team members have inside them. The more you communicate, delegate, and celebrate the more your team will be pointed in a positive direction. In the process, share your vision and praise. And always maintain high expectations.
In the end, your efforts will be richly rewarded as team members strive to achieve great results, remain engaged to your mission, and experience self-satisfaction on their journey.
All the best with your leadership!
Posted in
Business presentations Presentation skills training Sales presentations,
Communication,
Facilitating meetings,
Leadership,
Presentation Training
by effectivecommunication.com.au
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