We live in hard times currently, with our teams of people struggling with no pay rises, limited bonuses (unless you’re a banker ) and longer hours – just to keep our businesses afloat. If you’re the manager of a team, you will know that a motivated team is a more productive team!
Continuing the theme of motivating people without having to spend too much money, here are 5 key ways you as a Manager can motivate YOUR team:
- When individuals, or the team, do something well i.e. something beyond their normal responsibitlities, find a way to congratulate them. This doesn’t have to be in the form of extra cash – it could be a public thankyou, a letter of thanks, a day off or even a voucher for a dinner etc. It does have to be immediate however, so that, psychologically, they connect the reward with the postive behaviour you want to encourage.
- Get to know everyone in your team, and get to know, and respect, one special strength they each have. It may not be immediately obvious, but it will help you get to know them in a positive way, that will come over as an afirmation and encouragement. It will also make them feel appreciated as a person.
- Involve your team in planning. This will help them understand the purpose of what they individually do, and the connection between their success and the busisiness’s success. You may also get great ideas that you hadn’t thought of.
- Be enthusiastic and excitied about your business. If you aren’t, then your team won’t be either.
- Be flexible. As long as the work gets done on time, it may not matter if they have to work slightly different hours to suit their personal circumstances or work from home. Try to focus on the results, not on hours worked too.
What do YOU do to motivate YOUR team?
For more ways to improve your management – www.cocreative.co.uk
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Nice blog Jacqui! Well done for being the first Navigator member to have successfully have a blog published within http://www.marketingcompass.co.uk 🙂
Hi Jacqui
I totally agree with you about incentives and motivation, we find providing a Porsche 911 Turbo for the employee of the month works quite well, as does an all expenses trip to an exotic island
Apart from that the working environment is very important, work has to be a fun place to attend, and while we all have pressures if we can have a laugh and joke then work would be a miserable place to attend.
Best regards Andy Saoulis Case Communications
Hi Jacqui, Thank you for posting this. As always, you provide sound advice. In turbulent times, it is important for management to be sensitive to the needs and changing circumstances of their colleagues. The economy has a big impact on management and staff alike and, as you say, it is important to get to know the members of your team. Incidentally, have you read Maverick by Ricardo Semler? All the best, Nigel
Andy, if your employee of the month gets a Porsche, can I come and work for you?!
Seriously though, my original article (on my website) gave some ideas for rewarding employees that are a bit cheaper than a Porsche – many of them free.
Good to hear from you Andy, how are things?
Hi Nigel – I’ve just bought a copy. I’m looking forward to the chapter on HR – it sounded intruiging.
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