There have been quite a few blog posts regarding effective management styles and how to be a good leader. In addition to these tips, one thing I find very relevant is how to motivate your direct reports and ensure your team is engaged every day. We’ve probably all been rewarded at some point or another with trophies, bonuses, etc. While those are all nice to receive, do they really keep us motivated and energized to deliver great work on a daily basis?
In a recent Inc. article, the author highlights some of the most effective things you can do as a manager to motivate your team:
1) Interesting Work
2) Information
3) Involvement
4) Independence
5) Increased Visibility
I wholeheartedly agree with the tips of being transparent and supporting employees with independence. I think one of the most demotivating characteristics a manager can have is to micromanage his or her employees. In my experience, having a manager who empowers you to make decisions on your own is by far more motivating than anything else. As we all advance in our careers, I think these are great tips to ground ourselves in how to keep our employees engaged and delivering great work.
This might coincide with ‘involvement,’ but another important aspect that I see is having some sort of perceived ownership of the company that you work for. If you buy into the company’s mission and your work has a direct impact on it’s performance, you are more likely to be more productive and work harder to see the company succeed.
Nancy
All of these points are great motivators. Personally, I feel that I am motivated most when I see that the work I am doing is creating real value for my organization. Also, while I feel that we each have a responsibility as employees to be intrinsically motivated to do the best work possible, this is absolutely not always the case. However, as budding leaders in our respective fields, we must remember that motivating ourselves can be as important to our teams as is motivating the team. Our teams will look to us for guidance in a multitude of ways, not the least of which is how and when we are motivated to do our best work.