The term “inspired workers” may sound as if it’s lifted right from a bad how-to guide for struggling managers. But there’s nothing laughable about what companies have realized through these tactics.
Here are three principles designed to inspire and motivate your staff — in good times and bad.
Avoid image management. Instead of only stressing the positives or the areas where your company excels, share with your staffers where your organization is weak and needs work. Make it clear that they are needed. This will help to foster a partnership mentality in the office.
Hone in on what they really want. What are your employees’ latent ambitions and desires? Does that quiet accountant have aspirations of heading a finance department down the road? To get staffers to work with an inspired fervor, make it clear that you’re committed to helping them achieve both short-term and long-term goals.
One way: Use creativity to give employees tasks that will set them up for their future goals.
Example: Instead of having management lead all department meetings, have different finance staffers take the reins occasionally.
Show them the abilities and skills they don’t see in themselves. Pay particular attention to specific areas in which employees excel (and may not even be aware of) and follow this three-part strategy: notice, name and nurture.
After recognizing a staffer’s skill, let him know — but be specific. Then, nurture the talent by providing training and opportunities to support that particular skill.
