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Motivating Team Members

As a manager, you are responsible for results, not only your own results but also the results of others.  It is your team’s results that will determine how successful you will be. Communicating your appreciation for your team goes a long way to insure above average results.  When your team feels appreciated, they are more motivated to excel.  On the flip side, if they feel unappreciated, you can expect mediocre performance, just enough to keep their job until they can find something better.  To make sure your team feels appreciated, follow the following three guidelines:

(1)    Don’t Micro Manage

Constantly looking over your team’s shoulder and directing all aspects of the tasks will tell your team that you don’t trust them.  Clearly communicate expectations for final results and let the team use their ideas to achieve these results.  At most, you might ask the team how they plan to accomplish the final results.  Even though it may different than how you might do it, if you can see that it can work, let go and let the team show you how well it can be done.

(2)    Give the team all the credit

Never take credit for other’s accomplishments.  Make sure you acknowledge the team’s results not only to the team, but to the rest of the organization.  Recognize individual contributions as well as the team’s results.  Make sure your team knows that you are their best fan.  Celebrate your team’s victories as they occur.  Don’t wait until the entire project is completed.  Keep the celebrations fun and varied. 

(3)    Be sincere   

Be sincere in giving the team credit for results.  When praising or rewarding, make sure it is deserved and not just shallow words.  Encourage effort but praise and reward results.  Let individual team members know that you appreciate their contributions and take a personal interest in them.  Don’t give credit when credit is not due or you will make words of credit hollow.

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