Building a great team is more than simply hiring the right people with the right skillsets. If you want to get the most out of those you work with, you’ll need to make a serious effort to go beyond management and learn to motivate.
Here are six ways to inspire greatness in those who work with you.
1 | Get clear about your vision.
When it comes to building trust, transparency and clarity are your two biggest assets. Having a very clear understanding of your short and long-term goals is an essential component in the success and sharing this with your staff is vital. When you have everyone on the same page (and understanding the “why”), they are able to understand what their part is. You can then help them to breakdown how to do their part in a way that most benefits the company. Not offering this kind of clarity causes stress and chaos, both of which are toxic when it comes to high performance.
2 | Pay attention.
This one sounds obvious, but many business owners are so busy sharing what they want (and don’t want) that they don’t pay attention to the messages being sent back to them by their teams. Are your staff members showing nonverbal clues of frustration when you cut them off or dismiss a concern? Are they constantly asking for clarity? Do they seem tired or otherwise disengaged in presentations? These are clear signs that you need to work on your listening and communication skills. Instead of holding meetings where you simply delegate tasks and follow-up on what has and hasn’t been done, ask your staff to share what they are experiencing in their roles and noticing in the industry. When you make meetings more about a real exchange of information, your team feels heard and is more likely to listen. You’ll also gain access to invaluable information that will help you level-up your company internally which will have an invaluable impact on customer service and efficiency.
3 | Stop bargain hunting for talent.
Put bluntly: pay your team what they are worth, and if you can’t afford to, compensate them in ways you can. This can be by offering more vacation days or more flexibility. The bottom line: Treating your staff as though they are “lucky to have a job” is a big no-no and it inevitably backfires. Resentful stressed and devalued employees will begin to look elsewhere. A high turnover rate is never a way to boost a business or reputation.
4 | Show appreciation.
Valuing your employees goes beyond giving them a fair wage and reasonable raises. You also need to treat them with the respect and care that will make them want to stay with your company and help you build your brand. Show appreciation for a job well done, offer them decent packages, create a transparent and supportive culture and give them a reason to love your company. The more you invest, the luckier employees will feel to be working with you which leads to them going the extra mile on their own.
5 | Be welcoming.
Of new ideas, of progress, of team members stopping by your office, of mistakes that lead to a better understanding. The more open you are, the more comfortable your team will be sharing new ideas and concerns with you. When you’re closed off, you create an atmosphere that feeds secrecy and fear, two of the most dangerous elements you can have in a business.
6 | Do your part.
Lead your company by example. Instead of telling them to do one thing while you sit in your office and do another because you’re the “boss,” get out there with your team and show them you know exactly what it means to work hard and you’re not above doing what you ask them to. If your team is pulling all-nighters and you’re out by 5 every day, there’s a disconnect.
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