Management Diary The Quintessential Survival Guide in the Corporate Quagmire!

Ten Top Ways for Managers to Motivate Their People


So to help start the ball rolling, here are ten top ways to get your people motivated. Ten small steps for you to start with.

  • Recognise them
    Recognise your people as people, by saying 'Good Morning', checking that they're OK and taking a little time with them.
  • Challenge them
    People need stimulation at work, so to encourage growth, build on their achievement of one skill, with the introduction of another. Instruct, coach and then delegate the new task.
  • Encourage fun
    Whilst it is a fine line between having fun and anarchy, it is worthwhile spending the time to understand, define and explore that boundary. Having fun is a great way to build team spirit. Checkout where everyone's 'fun' threshold is, respect it and then have a lot of laughs.
  • Listen - a LOT!
    Listening to your people builds rapport and a bond which in itself is powerfully motivational.
  • Encourage mistakes
    By stretching themselves, people sometimes get it wrong - and sometimes make gloriously powerful 'inventions' to move your business forward. By creating an environment where mistakes are not wrong but encouraged, you will find creativity soars. Even mistakes where things go wrong and cost money should not be wasted. Create value from these by really learning for the future...as Henry Ford once said "Bring me people who make mistakes" Make it a safe place!
  • Say Thank You
    It is surprising how much reward we all get from being recognised. The humble (if rare in some organisations), "Thank You" is a simple, yet very powerful way to recognise the efforts every one of your team puts in every day. Think of the last time someone said thank you to you and how great that made you feel.
  • Be Understanding
    This tip needs careful and skilful management and great managers can do it. Understand that your people are real people with emotions and experiences which impact on them. Being sympathetic to their needs, occasionally and not so often that it impacts your business, will bring great rewards and commitment. Do set ground rules for yourself which allow 'understanding', yet enable you to draw the line clearly and firmly when you need to. Be consistent and fair.
  • Get Out of Their Way
    By allowing your people to carry out 'the boss's work', you strongly build self-belief in your people. Be fair and don't just delegate the 'rubbish' jobs, but some of your fun jobs as well (and remember to choose individuals whose strengths match the task).
  • Share How You are Feeling
    By being a partner with your people and showing that you are a real person too, you will encourage others to take big steps with you. This works because understanding that you share hopes, fears and challenges in common with your people makes them feel a committed part of you, as well as your business - this is a powerful message which they share
  • Reward
    Last but not least, pay appropriately. Whilst if you pay brilliantly, yet miss out 1-9 you may get short-term gain, it is unlikely to maintain motivation for more than a while. Conversely, if you pay badly, you may lose people because they simply can't afford to stay with you, however great it is. Striking a balance is the ideal. Don't forget to recognise with some fun rewards and as in No. 6, say thank you a lot. It will pay dividends and is free!

    Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com/motivation.html (Note to editors. This article may be edited for use in your publication or newsletter as long as a live link to the website is included)

    ...helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow...


    MORE RESOURCES:

    TEXT-S&P revises Apollo Investment Corp outlook to stable - Reuters

    TEXT-S&P revises Apollo Investment Corp outlook to stable
    Reuters
    (The following statement was released by the rating agency) -- Apollo Investment Corp. (AIC) has announced changes in management, a reduction in its dividend, and adjustments to its investment strategy. -- In our view, changes to the firm's investment ...
    Apollo Investment Changing Strategy, ManagementWall Street Journal
    Company News for February 9, 2012Zacks.com
    Apollo Investment's CEO Discusses Q3 2012 Results - Earnings Call TranscriptSeeking Alpha
    Economic Times -Tech24
    all 28 news articles »

  • Integrated Asset Management Corp. Announces Results for the First Quarter of ... - MarketWatch (press release)

    Integrated Asset Management Corp. Announces Results for the First Quarter of ...
    MarketWatch (press release)
    TORONTO, ONTARIO, Feb 09, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Integrated Asset Management Corp. ("IAM") /quotes/zigman/18979 CA:IAM -7.14% today announced unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. Review of the 3-Month Period ...

    and more »

    Edgewood Management Holdings in 4th Quarter: 13F Alert - Bloomberg

    Edgewood Management Holdings in 4th Quarter: 13F Alert
    Bloomberg
    Top Positions by Market Value Company Name Ticker Market Value Current Change (USD $) Position In Position Celgene Corp CELG US 424280043 6276332 -33371 QUALCOMM Inc QCOM US 397587935 7268518 -21149 Visa Inc-Class A Shares V US 389712244 3838395 ...

    and more »

    Oracle to Pay $1.9B for Taleo, Extends SAP Rivalry - ABC News

    USA TODAY

    Oracle to Pay $1.9B for Taleo, Extends SAP Rivalry
    ABC News
    Oracle Corp. is escalating its rivalry with German business-software maker SAP AG with a $1.9 billion purchase of Taleo Corp., a company that helps businesses hire and manage their employees. The proposed purchase announced Thursday extends Oracle's ...
    Oracle buys talent management firm Taleo for US$1.9BITWorld Canada
    Oracle to pay $1.9 billion for personnel software company, extends rivalry ...Washington Post
    Oracle to pay $1.9 billion for Taleo, extends SAP rivalryUSA TODAY

    all 411 news articles »

    Mildred Hailey to Retire From Bromley-Heath Tenant Management Corp. - Patch.com

    Mildred Hailey to Retire From Bromley-Heath Tenant Management Corp.
    Patch.com
    Mildred Hailey to Retire From Bromley-Heath Tenant Management Corp. The Jackson Square housing development will be run by the Boston Housing Authority, at least in the short term. By Chris Helms It's the end of an era at Bromley-Heath, as the woman who ...

    and more »

    VIST Financial Corp. Announces 2011 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Operating ... - MarketWatch (press release)

    VIST Financial Corp. Announces 2011 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Operating ...
    MarketWatch (press release)
    VIST Financial Corp. is diversified financial services company headquartered in Wyomissing, PA, offering banking, insurance, investments, and wealth management services throughout Berks, Southern Schuylkill, Montgomery, Delaware, Philadelphia and ...

    and more »

    State Street's Powers Seeks to Expand Active Money Management - Bloomberg

    State Street's Powers Seeks to Expand Active Money Management
    Bloomberg
    Scott Powers, head of State Street Corp.'s investments unit, said the Boston-based company is looking to increase its active management business. ?We're focused on broadening out our active capabilities,? Powers said during a presentation in New York ...

    and more »

    Baja Mining Files Management Information Circular and Exposes Mount Kellett's ... - MarketWatch (press release)

    Baja Mining Files Management Information Circular and Exposes Mount Kellett's ...
    MarketWatch (press release)
    VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Feb 09, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Baja Mining Corp. /quotes/zigman/31250 CA:BAJ +4.30% (otcqx:BAJFF) today advised shareholders that it has filed and is mailing its Management Information Circular for a Special ...

    and more »

    Owl Creek hedge fund cuts stake in Navistar - Reuters

    Owl Creek hedge fund cuts stake in Navistar
    Reuters
    Feb 9 (Reuters) - New York-based Owl Creek Asset Management, a $7 billion hedge fund, reported a 7-percent stake in truck and engine maker Navistar International Corp, down from an 8.4 percent stake in December, a regulatory filing showed on Thursday.

    and more »

    Thomson Reuters posts loss, $3 bln goodwill charge - Reuters

    Globe and Mail

    Thomson Reuters posts loss, $3 bln goodwill charge
    Reuters
    ... management shakeups in 2011 to address lackluster performance in Markets and a slumping stock price. This resulted in the exit of then CEO Tom Glocer, who had helped engineer the acquisition of Reuters Group Plc by Canada's Thomson Corp in 2008.
    Thomson Reuters hit by US$3-billion goodwill chargeFinancial Post
    Thomson NEWS.GNOM.ES posts loss, $3 billion goodwill charge (NEWS.GNOM.ES)NEWS.GNOM.ES (press release)

    all 68 news articles »
    home | site map |       Disclaimer |       Privacy Policy
    © 2006