It's one thing to motivate yourself, but how to get others going? First, you need to be charged up. Picture the scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off when Ben Stein is teaching economics. Does this remind you of your team meetings? If so, you have some work to do on yourself.
The truth is, you really can't motivate other people if they won't let you. What kind of rapport do you have with your team? Do they trust you? Do they respect you? There are many managers who either separate themselves from their team, or go into collusion with them. You can't expect a dictatorial or patriarchal approach to truly motivate anyone. Sure, they may put on a great act, but you will never really get through to them. Or if you bemoan the current economic conditions, or the troublesome customers or lack thereof, you may have gained some drinking buddies, but they will never trust you to push them forward.
Motivating
You need to be a true leader who inspires and enrolls the team with your vision. You need to BE the leader. Are you convinced that you can lead? Do you fully believe in your mission? Do you live the values of your organization? You see, it's far more important for a leader to be respected than liked. If the team likes you, they will tolerate you; if they respect you, they will trust you to lead them.
Then, the team needs to have a common goal and each team member must have individual development and productivity goals. These goals must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results oriented, and tied to a Timeline. The team needs to know what they are shooting for.
Next, understand what motivates your people. Some say that money is the all-important factor. The best ways to use monetary incentives is to tie them to a contest, or sporadically (and privately) give a bonus for a specific reason. While motivating, keep in mind that the effects of monetary incentives are temporary. Pay your employees fairly, and you won't hear complaining about money (and you won't have to worry so much about theft).
Recognition is far more powerful because it lasts. When you recognize your team, both as a group and individually, for their contribution, you will have made a huge investment in their emotional bank account. IMPORTANT: recognition must be sincere and meaningful, and incentives need to be somewhat tangible, such as: a special parking spot, a dinner where you serve them, a plaque that is prominently displayed, etc.
There is nothing more powerful to help your business succeed than a motivated team. So, how will you develop as a leader and what actions will you take to get the team going?
Some Ideas on Team Motivation
Copyright © 2008 Kahuna Enterprises, Inc.
Tim Dollmeyer is a certified ActionCOACH business coach. If you have questions or would like to learn about coaching, visit [http://timdollmeyer.com/]
As the world of business moves faster and becomes more competitive, having a Business Coach is no longer a luxury; it has become a necessity! Tim's role is to coach business owners to improve their businesses using the proven systems provided by ActionCOACH coupled with his experience and yours. Tim will work with you to develop your vision and then get you into Action to achieve it.
Tim is a powerful and inspirational presenter who uses humor and audience participation to bring his point across in a way that will make a big impact on you and your business. Whether teaching business management, leadership or team building, Tim will help you to view your business in a whole new way. Tim presents workshops for every aspect of growing a business. Each program can be tailored to your company's specific needs. He also delivers workshops in various areas such as conflict resolution, negotiating and public speaking.
Related : Motivational Techniques