Motivating People
Discover more from How to Lead Everybody (with their permission)
“Leadership is the ability to get men to do what they don’t want to do and like it.”
~ Harry Truman
As leaders, we need to motivate our team members—and one size does not fit all. Some people want the challenge. Some people want to help. Some people want to be a part of the planning. Some people want to have and use their expertise. Some people want to make a fair contribution.
Get to know what motivates each of your direct reports. Frame your requests (not orders!) to let them know what to do, how to do it, and when to do it, but also with a motivational factor. “I know you’ll knock this out of the park.” “I feel like I can count on you for this.” “We’re doing X, and I want you on the team. Can I get your input on how we can…?” “You’re the one I trust to do this right.”
You aren’t changing the task or the deadline. You are framing the information in a way that makes the person feel good about doing it. They know it’s their job, so they will do the tasks you assign them. Effective motivation makes them feel validated and respected for doing their job. You are helping them have an investment in doing excellent work. It’s a great, no-cost way to build morale and retention.
(Photo by Isravel Raj on Unsplash)