The Secret to Motivating Your Team – A Short Guide for Leaders

In any workplace, having a motivated team is essential to success. As a leader, it’s your job to ensure that your team is driven and working towards a common goal. But how do you motivate your team? What techniques can you use to get the most out of your team and make sure everyone is on the same page? Let’s explore how leaders can motivate their teams.

Motivating Teams

Most teams right now are working with a new set of targets, that are higher and fiercer than previously.  And… after crawling out of two and half years of fear uncertainty and doubt (FUD) due to COVID and… staring down a year of more FUD because of the war in the Ukraine, inflation, interest rates, recession…  Your people are exhausted.

Here is my simple guide for motivating your teams in tough times:

1. Set Clear Goals and Expectations. The first step to motivating your team is setting clear goals and expectations. You should have clear objectives so that everyone knows what they are working towards. Setting measurable goals will help keep motivation high as each individual and the entire team will be able to track their progress towards achieving them. Additionally, creating SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) goals will help ensure that these objectives are realistic and achievable by the entire group.
2. Reward Good Work. Rewarding good work is another great way to motivate your team members. This doesn’t necessarily mean giving out bonuses or raises, but rather acknowledging when someone has done something particularly well or gone above and beyond what was expected of them. This could be verbal recognition in front of their peers or even just a simple ‘thank you’ email or hand-written card – either way it goes a long way in ensuring that your team feels appreciated for their efforts.
3. Provide Opportunities for Growth. Finally, providing opportunities for growth is another great way to keep motivation high within your team. This could mean offering professional development courses or cross-training opportunities so that everyone has the chance to learn new skills or take on more responsibility within the organization. This not only helps keep morale high but also ensures that individuals stay engaged with their work as they constantly strive for improvement and advancement within their role.

Motivating people on your team can seem daunting at times, but if you use strategies such as setting clear goals, rewarding good work, and providing opportunities for growth, then you will see results! By taking these steps you can ensure that everyone is working together towards a common goal while feeling appreciated for their hard work along the way.

Robert Murray is a Vancouver, BC based Business Strategy Consultant, #1 Best Selling Author, International Keynote Speaker, and TEC Top Speaker of the Year for 2018. For further advice, insight and inspiration on how to unlock your inner leader, connect with Robert on LinkedIn.

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