How to motivate your team

Do you keep an eye on your employees’ basic needs and pay attention to what motivates them? Or do you instead have a tendency to go on autopilot throughout a busy working week hoping that your employees are able to “keep up” even if it seems like the train is moving at full speed?

According to Søren Villadsen, HR-expert and EGN Chair, distant and unfocused leadership will undoubtedly lead to worse results and a decrease in loyalty.

As a leader, you create results through your employees, and therefore it is necessary to keep a sharp eye on ensuring engagement and motivation.

He has formulated six tips for motivating your employees.

1. Understand what drives each person
   Employees all have individual personalities and so they are motivated by different factors. Therefore, ask frequently what inspires and motivates them. Demonstrate curiosity about their personal motivations and you will be able to allocate them tasks in accordance with their interests.
    
2. Walk the talk
   Be an effective leader by setting a good example in terms of the approach and engagement you want your employees to demonstrate. You’ll see immediate positive results in the workplace — or the opposite if you don’t walk the talk.
    
3. The clear briefing
   Clearly explain the goals and purpose of each new project and Ensure your employees understand what the project will contribute to the organisation as a whole, the changes it will foster and what the goals and responsibilities are for each person. Listen to your employees’ ideas, delegate responsibility accordingly, and show trust.

See also: Drive Change With the Right KPIs

4. Continuous feedback
   The debriefing process is just as important as the briefing itself: it is an opportunity to evaluate the project and the goals – both during the project and after completion. Schedule regular meetings to discuss status and progress.
   
   This approach makes it possible to change strategy if the circumstances change, or if an employee needs additional sparring or tasks need to be rearranged. Be aware that there is a clear link between employees feeling uncertain about their role and them becoming demotivated.
    
5. PRAISE!
   Praise and acknowledgment are important motivational drivers, and this is often forgotten when we intuitively expect the employee to know when we are satisfied with his or her work. Express praise for their work out loud – either face to face in private, or in the company of others.
    
6. Be present
   Whether you are working physically or virtually with your team, your presence as a leader is crucial for maintaining motivation.
   
   Being present and engaged adds to your authenticity as a leader, which again contributes to motivated employees. An easy – but effective – place to start is by remembering something as simple as saying good morning and goodbye every day.

See also: Show Your Face When you Communicate