4 Ways to Motivate Your Team and Help Them Grow
As a leader, one of your most important jobs is to motivate your team to do their best work while growing as individuals. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done, and there is no defined playbook that you are given to help you do this, especially when you transition into your first leadership role.
By using these four tips, you can motivate and help your team grow into the best employees they can be and get the most out of your team.
1. Communicate clear goals and expectations.
Your team should know what you expect of them both in the short-term and long-term. Clear expectations will help them stay focused and on track. Be sure to communicate your expectations clearly and concisely. What exactly do you want them to achieve? How will you know if they’re successful? By setting clear goals, you’ll give your team a roadmap to follow and something to strive towards.
One of the most effective tools for motivating your team is using OKRs, or Objectives and Key Results. The OKR method was first developed by Intel CEO Andy Grove in the 1970s to help set goals and track progress towards those goals. Since then, it has become a popular goal-setting tool used by many organisations, most notably by Google.
Today, many leaders use OKRs to motivate their team members and keep them focused on achieving their objectives. By setting measurable benchmarks tied to specific timeframes, you can help your team stay motivated and on track towards meeting their objectives. And by tracking progress towards those benchmarks each week or month, you can provide regular feedback that will keep your team engaged and focused. So if you’re looking for a way to get the most out of your team, consider using OKRs to help motivate and develop them.
2. Offer regular feedback — both positive and constructive.
While clear, measurable goals are an essential part of motivating your team, it’s also crucial to offer regular feedback. This can be both positive and constructive, depending on the situation. For example, if your team is working hard towards achieving their goals, a simple “thank you” can go a long way in helping motivate them even further.
On the other hand, if your team isn’t meeting expectations or experiencing challenges in accomplishing their goals, it’s important to offer constructive feedback. This might include providing guidance on how they can improve or offering suggestions for resources that may help them get back on track. Whatever type of feedback you choose to give, be sure that it is timely and actionable so that your team members can put it to good use.
Many models can be used to deliver feedback, and whilst they all have their place in helping you to approach the feedback logically, I believe that all forms of feedback must be given from a place of trust and respect for the individual.
When delivering constructive feedback, it’s also helpful to start with something positive before getting into the areas for improvement. This can help put your team member in the right mindset and show that you value their work. And by focusing on specific behaviours rather than personal attributes, you are more likely to be able to reach a resolution or come up with solutions together. So if you’re looking for ways to motivate and develop your team members, consider offering regular feedback as part of your strategy.
3. Encourage a growth mindset.
Psychologist Carol Dweck first introduced the concept of a growth mindset in her book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”. According to Dweck, having a growth mindset means believing that your skills and abilities can improve with effort. In contrast, those with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities are unchangeable and innate, making them less willing to challenge themselves or put in the work needed to improve.
People with a growth mindset tend to be more motivated and successful than those with a fixed mindset, so encouraging your team members to adopt one can help motivate them and develop their skills.
You can take several steps as a leader to encourage your team members to develop this important trait.
Set clear goals and expectations. As we’ve already touched on, your team should know what they’re expected to achieve in the short and long term. This will help them stay focused on their development rather than just getting results immediately.
Encourage risk-taking and taking on new challenges. By encouraging your team members to take risks, they’ll be more likely to develop their skills and abilities as professionals. Be sure to provide resources and support when needed, but also let them figure things out for themselves so that they can gain confidence in their abilities.
Emphasise learning over perfectionism. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s how we learn and grow!
Foster a culture of learning and collaboration. A supportive work environment that encourages professional development will go a long way towards encouraging your team members to develop a growth mindset. Encourage learning opportunities such as mentorship programs or professional development workshops, and foster an atmosphere of collaboration that helps everyone on your team succeed.
By encouraging a growth mindset in your team, they’ll be motivated to reach higher levels of performance and take on more challenging tasks. With your help, they can develop into stellar members of your team!
4. Provide development opportunities.
Your team members will be more motivated if they feel like they are constantly learning and growing. Offer opportunities for development, such as training programs, mentorship, or cross-training within the company. These will help your team members expand their knowledge and skills while working on the goals that you’ve set for them.
To do this thoughtfully, you need to take a step back and first make sure you discuss your team member’s development path with them. Ask what they’re interested in learning, and find out where their current skills need improvement. Then, you can create a plan to help them reach their goals through targeted training or other development opportunities that will fit within your budget, an agreed-upon timeframe and your team’s overall objectives.
By providing development opportunities, you’ll create an environment where your team members feel motivated to work hard and build upon their existing skills.
Conclusion
These are just a few tips for motivating your team but implementing these four areas can help to take a modestly performing team and give them the tools needed to foster a high-performing culture. Remember that every team is different, so what works for one group may not work for another. The most important thing is to keep communication open and encourage a growth mindset to create an environment where your team members can reach their full potential.