Does your staff lack motivation?
No one can deny that Phil is a terrific fundraiser. He knows how to get donors to keep giving and has the energy to keep it up, year after year. Phil gets results.
But each time he comes to the end of a campaign, Phil is frustrated with his employees. He often feels as though he’s had to do all the work himself, even though he has a team of “qualified” staff members who are supposed to help.
Why can’t Phil find the right people?
This is the question I asked myself when I first met Phil a couple of years ago. The answer became clear as I got to know Phil and his management style a bit better. Obviously Phil had some great skills, but he also had a knack for turning off his employees.
If your staff lacks motivation, before blaming them, look inside and see if you’re guilty of any of these employee “de-motivators”:
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Barking orders and maintaining a negative attitude. The first rule of employee motivation is to inspire by setting a positive example.
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Not acknowledging employee’s efforts. Most people want to do a good job, and put in a great deal of effort. A great way to motivate employees is to appreciate their efforts.
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Dismissing their ideas and concerns. No one likes to be dismissed. When staff members offer ideas or concerns, listen attentively and take them seriously even if you don’t agree.
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Micro managing. Good staff training sets the foundation for how to do things. If you find yourself micro managing, take a look at your training and staff management strategies and make necessary adjustments. Then, let them go off and do the work, don’t hover – you’ll get better results that way.
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Failing to set clear expectations. Let your employees know what you want them to accomplish and why. Help them to understand each of your roles, and their place in the grand scheme.
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Changing course without sharing your reasoning. Often in business things change. It’s much easier for people to embrace change when they understand why changes are necessary. Keeping employees in the loop helps keep them motivated to comply.
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Poor communication skills. Employee motivation is so much easier when you communicate clearly and positively.
If you want to learn more about staff motivation, call me, I’m here to help.
Susan Martin, Business Coaching
