Motivation: the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.
“escape can be a strong motivation for travel”
Synonyms: incentive, stimulus, stimulation, inspiration, inducement, incitement, inducement, spur, reason; “his motivation was financial”
The Pep Talk: From businesses to sports teams to non-profit organizations and more, the pep talk – usually brief – is often used to make “team members” feel more courageous or enthusiastic about the challenge ahead of them. And clearly pep talks are effective, but only if given to a group that is prepared to take action.
Preparation: A sports team spends hundreds, even thousands, of hours practicing at individual skill positions and as a team. Effective businesses also spend hundreds of hours making sure their various “teams” are equipped, taught, and trained to perform their individual and collective responsibilities. They know what the company’s mission is and understand how to do their part. Successful non-profit organizations are mission driven. It is most important that everyone “owns” or “buys into” the mission – the reason for their existence. But like a for profit business, they, too, must spend countless hours educating, equipping, training and setting clear expectations for team member (Board members and staff) performance, helping to ensure organization success.
To such teams, motivation will work because they have all they need, including leadership support, to be successful – and help the organization be successful. But why should they? Therein comes the need for motivation. So what are the things you can do to motivate a team to excellence?
Five tips on motivating your team:
- Relationships are the first priority: It is easy to show up at work, do your job, and never feel a meaningful connection to “the team”. Team members who feel valued and that their contributions are important to the organization’s goals more often excel and are much happier in their work.
- Listening: I’ve always been a believer that “you never know who the next best idea is going to come from.” When team members feel like they are being heard and that their opinions and suggestions matter, their productivity tends to surge. They have equal value (as members of the team), but they serve different functions within the company.
- Something greater than money for self-satisfaction: Whether for profit or nonprofit, organizations must have a cause their leaders are passionate about and help the entire team to embrace that passion. People are wired – whether they know it or not – to live for something greater than themselves. Fulfillment comes when they live it.
- Meetings: Meetings can be helpful, but only if they accomplish a necessary objective. Many organizations have too many meetings, thinking that getting people together and “going over stuff” will help. Review your meeting schedule with the view of purging it.
- Intermittent positive reinforcement: Years ago I was part of a study which reviewed company initiatives like “casual Friday,” “weekly catering for lunch,” etc… which companies instituted to motivate performance and productivity. However, once institutionalized, they soon lost the effect. Better to surprise your team, big or small, with something unexpected. Everyone likes a surprise. The workplace is no exception.