The secrets to how leaders motivate others. Since the amount you can accomplish on your own is limited, it’s necessary to have the assistance of others. Someone that can motivate others to do their best has an incredibly valuable talent. When you can inspire others, you can accomplish much more.
How leaders motivate others to do their best:
1. Be emotionally supportive. To help others shine, removing the fear of failing or looking foolish is critical. Most people are frozen by fear and prefer to remain comfortable. When fear is greater than motivation, nothing happens. Removing fear can be even more effective as instilling additional motivation.
2. Provide additional support. Ask what resources are required. Does your employee require additional help or funds to get a project off the ground? Perhaps your child needs a tutor or assistance with creating a resume. Determine what resources are required for success and provide them.
3. Follow up regularly. Show that you care by monitoring their progress. Ask open ended questions and then listen. Asking these questions will also help to keep them on track. Two people putting their minds together can make a huge difference for both parties.
4. Be publically supportive. It’s one thing to support an employee in the privacy of your office. It’s quite another to be supportive in front of her co-workers. Parents are guilty of this, too. Avoid only supporting your children around the dinner table. Support them in public also.
5. Acknowledge and reward. Acknowledge progress and effort regularly. Everyone needs a little boost now and then. Ideally, give acknowledgment publically. Conversely, your disgruntlement and any discipline should be handled privately. Have your acknowledgments contain both the specific detail of what you are acknowledging and a general statement on what that means, in your opinion, about them. When correcting, criticizing, or disciplining keep your feedback very specific, and absolutely no generalizing.
6. Ask for ideas. You might hear a few ideas that are as good or better than your own. It’s easier for others to get excited and committed about their own ideas than to get excited about yours. Using ideas from your team will create a sense of purpose and involvement.
7. Be clear. Vagueness breeds confusion. Confusion saps enthusiasm. When you confuse others, you lose. When the objective and the necessary steps are simple and clear, motivation is easier to generate. Ensure that everyone is clear on their roles. Confirm that everyone understands and is on the same page. Remember- Keep it Simple!
8. Set a good example. If it’s important to you, it will be important to your employees, spouse, or children. Don’t just tell them it’s important, but show them by your behavior. Make the objective a priority in your own life.
9. Create a vision. Paint a picture of the end results in the minds of those involved. The work may at times not be fun, but it’s the result that matters and everyone remembers. Keep reminding everyone of how great things will be when the objective is accomplished and why it matters. The work is the path to reach that endpoint.
10. Deal swiftly with dissenters. It only takes one dissenting, charismatic employee to bring the whole thing crashing down. There’s often one complainer that tries to undermine the enthusiasm of everyone else. Don’t underestimate the damage this one person can do. Have a heart-to-heart conversation with them or move them out of the group.
- Motivation isn’t just about adding positive motivation. It’s also about removing obstacles. Dissenters are obstacles.
- Encourage the sharing of opinions. However, once a decision has been made, expect cooperation.
Encourage others to do their best work or to follow their dreams. How leaders motivate others is a skill that anyone can develop. It must be learned by doing it. You can only be as successful as your team. Avoid the belief that you can do it all alone. You can’t.
Great leaders are tasked with the responsibility of inspiring others to be overachievers. It’s a challenging task, but if you’re good at motivating others, you’ll always be one of the most important people around. Leadership Matters.