Motivate Your Team

         The most important act in motivation is individual recognition. Recognition of good work pays dividends.

         To motivate people you need to spend time with them.  Good leaders ask questions and listen hard to members of their team.

         People are motivated if they feel they are wanted, are contributing, and doing a worthwhile job.

         The key to motivation is to train and develop staff by giving them more responsibility, recognizing their achievements publicly, and rewarding their efforts – job enrichment is so important.

A Handful of Tips to motivate people

* Be a role model

         Lead from the front with a smile.

         Spend time with your team so you learn something about their aims, ambitions, their strengths, weaknesses, and their history.

         Encourage them to use their strengths and work hard.

         Show enthusiasm for the project you are undertaking and emphasize the importance of their part in it.

         See if you can give people challenging assignments.

*  Involve your people 

         Keep the team fully informed about developments and be honest with them at all times.

         Explain changes in policy and consult them before making new rules.

* Improve working conditions

         Listen to the worker’s suggestions and complaints.

         Small improvements in equipment and in working conditions can often improve the morale of teams and help motivate them.

* Remove bureaucracy

         Get rid of unnecessary controls, rules, and regulations.

         Delegate greater responsibility to competent front-line workers.

         Aim to foster a more relaxed atmosphere in team talks. Encourage co-operation.

* Praise and reward people

         Acknowledge extra effort and good ideas. Tell members you appreciate their contributions to the team. 

         Reward successful teams.

         The most effective motivation can be to say, ‘Thank you. You did a good job.”

-Geoffrey Moss(Mossassociates.co.nz)

“Nothing motivates a team more than seeing the boss do a good day’s work.”

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