July 26, 2013
Encouraging a team is a vital skill for any business owner to possess. An entrepreneur who understands people and can support them will considerably improve their bottom line because their staff will be more efficient. As a result, you must learn how to motivate your team members if you wish to obtain the best results possible. This article will offer three tips that will make working with your team easier which will, in turn, improve their overall performance.
People are very motivated when they are working together towards a common objective, when they have a similar purpose. To do this, you must involve everyone on your team in each and every level of a project, including reviews, planning and generating results. People need to be aware of what is happening all the time, which is why you need to make sure you meet with everyone regularly. The more knowledge they have, the harder they’re going to strive to get the results you are expecting. Furthermore, by ensuring the members of your team are fully informed at all times, they’ll feel as if they are making a difference. When your team knows they make a difference, they will work harder to ensure desired outcomes.
Setting a good example is one of the best motivational tools in your toolbox. Never expect your team to do things you aren’t willing to do yourself, which is why your staff will be inspired to be like you when you set a good example. When you’re ready to do anything to get results, give your very best and are reliable, your team will do the same. Conversely, if you don’t open up, or come to work for two hours, you will simply demoralise your team members, which will no longer put any effort into obtaining the goals you set. People want to copy successful people so the more precise you are in the standards you set for yourself, the more likely it is for your staff to follow in your footsteps. You have to be fair, dependable and open with your people since your ultimate purpose is to inspire your team to attain results.
The matter of discipline can be contentious since there are many who feel only positive motivation should be encouraged in the workplace. While it’s true that you will get more through the power of positive motivation, you still need to be ready to discipline your staff. If someone, for example, is not doing their job thoroughly as a result of negligence and repeatedly makes the same errors, then you have to apply discipline and be quick and efficient about it, but that never means you should bully people. The key is not to always reinforce negative motivation and to give rewards when they do perform efficiently.
Understanding what makes the men and women on your team tick is the key to motivating them. The better you know the people you manage, the easier it will be for you to inspire them and ensure their performance meets or exceeds your standards. The tips above are a useful point to start but remember that not everything will work. The key to motivating others is to develop a good relationship with your team.