What Motivates YOU?

Pride in doing a good job; more responsibility; advancement and the recognition of achievements and personal growth and development? If you agree then consider how you can motivate others as human nature is the same everywhere

Five best ways to motivate others

* Recognise good work

          Spend quality time with your people. Show you are interested in their work and their achievements.

          Everyone needs praise. Be specific and sincere. Make people feel like winners. Nothing removes a chip on the shoulder as quickly as a pat on the back.

          Reward people for effort and their ideas. Rewards can take many forms – bonus payments; salary increase; a new position; time off; a car park; a new company car; a prize; a paid holiday; a special dinner or some other form of recognition.

* Being consulted

          Involve others in decisions.

          Be honest with people. Share your problems and difficulties and discuss new developments.

          Encourage ideas on how jobs can be done better, how working conditions can be improved, and how quality standards can be raised.

* Remove controls

          People do not do their best until they have the freedom to show what they are capable of doing.

          Increase the amount of responsibility you give people and make them accountable for their own work.

          Sound delegation is the key to staff management.

* Challenge people 

          Give demanding projects to staff, or to family members, to extend them. This encourages initiative and tests their capabilities.

          People get great pleasure in achieving good results.

* Remember names

          There is nothing more important than a person’s name, it’s the most important sound one can hear.

          Make an effort to remember names and their family names. Try repeating them, make notes of names, try to associate names with other people, or things or places.

Some motivation words worth remembering.

“ Could you please …” I am proud of you…” “You did a great job…” What do you think…” I admit I was wrong…” We will try …” ” Thank you …”  

-Geoffrey Moss (mossassociates.co.nz)

“Praise and a sincere compliment can be great motivators.”

Source: For change management details see “Managing for Tomorrow” first published by Moss Associates, New Zealand; also published by the Singapore Institute of Management and published in India, Korea and in Indonesia.