What does motivating a team have to do with getting the job done?
And what does motivating a team have to do with business plans?
“We are professionals, at least we should be professionals. We have job to to so then, we do it. ”
Yep that is true, in theory.
However, motivating a team, through highly developed leadership skills, has a huge practical impact on execution: business, sales, profits, quality, workmanship, you name it.
Plus, the point of doing business plans is to execute effectively, in an engaged way, to give you the best chance of achieving goals.
Motivating a team equals excellent execution.
The practical side of motivating a team
In practice, we are all people first with our values, beliefs, biases, attitudes, positive and negative. These kick in whenever any decision, statements, or action happens around us. They especially kick in to a statement, directive, decision aimed at us.
We perceive, decide, and act in what we “know” will work best for us and create satisfaction for ourselves.
All of us go through a instantaneous process of reacting most of the time during each day. We perceive, decide then act in our preferred ways.
So, on the negative side if your team is not highly motivated to align with you, you will suffer from…
Less than full engagement from a team resulting in…
- A slow down of work, often not consciously done.
- Thoughts are on other things more satisfying not the job at hand, despite best efforts.
- Discussions about “unfairness” or “management doesn’t listen” happen without management, you, knowing.
- Distractions occur while the team silently or not so silently “rants” about what they view as poor decisions.
On the positive side a motivated team is also an engaged team resulting in an increase in …
- Engagement in problem solving on the practical side, people side and in improving processes.
- The team overcomes obstacles and frustrations quicker to get moving again.
- Discussions become about how to improve rather the “problems around here.”
Increase your odds
To increase your odds of getting improved results, executing the business plan, continuously improving the operation, pay attention to motivations.
Motivations are based on values and preferred ways of doing things. These are deeply entrenched in all of us, built into our daily actions as deep seated habits.
Motivations are hard to change and easy to honor or dishonor.
Here’s what you can do to build a motivating environment:
- Share your vision and values for your company often.
- Insure your actions match your words. This will kill all efforts if you miss on this one.
- Understand your team’s values and motivators.
- Honor those values even if different.
Put it into practice
Ask the team to likewise honor your values and vision.
Accept that some on the team cannot make commitment… Just be sure that person isn’t you! That would be embarrassing.
Focus on those willing to step up. Learn what motivates them, then honor their values and preferences.
This process is very easy to lay out, easy to “know” it. However, it is a skill and a tricky skill that take daily effort to master.
Those who master these skills become exceptional leaders. Those who don’t master the skills are complained about as managers and eventually leave their jobs out of frustration or are forced out.
Take some time to work on motivating a team
Take some time and talk with an executive business coach about your situation.
They are trained in dealing with this and they have developed depth of expertise.
As an executive business coach I help clients through these issues continually.
Let’s set up a 30 minute complimentary time to discuss your situation. Maybe I can help.
Give me a call at 503-753-9971 or email me at phil@PhilBride.com.
