Ten Techniques for Motivating Others Through Chaos
by Ed Sykes
The work environment has changed. Change has become the norm.
Also the truth level of employees has decreased. This can lead
to increased dissatisfaction and decreased productivity.
Here are ten techniques for motivating your employees to succeed
during chaos:
1. Take Care of the Little Things
Doing the little things well will show that your respect your
employees. Making sure you are on time for meetings, saying 'good
morning' and 'thank-you,' and returning phone calls and e-mails
in a timely manner goes a long way to showing your employees that
you care during chaotic times.
2. Be an Active Listener
Recent research stated that the average supervisor or manager
only invests two hours per year applying 'pure listening' skills.
Pure listening is when you are listening to your employee you
are not:
- Multitasking
- Ordering your lunch
- Watching people walk by your office.
- Answering telephone calls
- Setting up appointments
To be a pure listener you must be an active listener. Good
managers do more than pay attention. They genuinely care about
people and never talk down to them. They ask their employees
about their goals and dreams, their past achievement, their concerns
and challenges during this chaotic time. They listen with their
hearts and minds. They respect the employee's thoughts and opinions.
They realize that the employees sometimes have the best answer
for achieving more through chaos.
3. Walk your Talk
If you expect your employees to arrive early, then you arrive
early. If you expect your employees to keep their promises, you
keep your promises. If you want your employees to keep to high
standards, you keep to high standards. Your employees are watching
you even when you don't think they are watching you. So set the
tone. Once you walk through the doors of your organization make
sure you are positive and upbeat if you expect your employees
to be positive and upbeat.
4. Let People Know They Make a Difference
At the top of many lists of what motivates employees, more
than money, is knowing that they make a difference at work. One
of the most powerful methods of letting your employees know they
make is difference is'praise (Go to article Appreciate to Motivate
to learn how). The praise should relate to how the employee helps
achieve the overall mission of the organization.
5. Communicate Clearly
Communicate so that others understand what you want to achieve.
Adapt your communication to the audience you are speaking. Constantly
communicate your vision and goals so that there are no misunderstandings.
The clearer the vision, the clearer the communication, the clearer
the opportunity for success.
6. Help Employees Succeed
People go to work to succeed, not fail. It is your job to
understand your employee's strengths and weaknesses so that you
can put them in the best position to succeed. If, for example,
you find out that an employee is lacking in a certain skill set
to succeed during a change then provide the coaching and training
to make them and your organization successful. The best managers
minimize or eliminate their employees weaknesses and while building
on their strengths. Remove any and all barriers to success.
7. Focus Your Team on the Goal.
Focus your employees on the end result, the overall team goal.
Once you successful communicate this your team will band together
to defeat any obstacles that get in the way.
8. Create High Standards
High-performance organizations set high standards for their
people. Employees want to know what is expected of them, how
their performance is measured, and what rewards they can expect
when they exceed the standard. Make sure the standards are consistently
applied to each employee. Make sure each employee understands
how the standards are measured so that they know how to reach
it. As each plateau is reached, set new goals.
9. Help Your Employees Compete and Win
Develop goals that help all your employees excel. Make your
goals inclusive not exclusive. This means that everybody is working
together and wins together. Have your employees complete against
the goal, not each other.
10. Reward Outstanding Achievement
Find ways to recognize your achievers in a public way. The
more you reward employees for excellent achievement, the more
you receive more of the same behavior. Make sure you are consistent
with the way you contribute rewards to your employees. Very important,
make use you communicate exactly why the employee is being rewarded.
And last, reward as soon as possible to the action.
Some of the ways you can show recognition are:
- Idea board
- Initiative Board
- Star Spotlight
- Certificates
- Gift cards
- Say thank-you
- Lunch
Apply these techniques and you will achieve your goals during
the most challenging of times.
About The Author: Ed Sykes is a professional speaker, author,
and success coach in the areas of leadership, motivation, stress
management, customer service, and team building. You can e-mail
him at esykes@thesykesgrp.com,
or call him at (757) 427-7032. Go to his web site, http://www.thesykesgrp.com, and signup for
his newsletter, OnPoint, and signup for the newsletter, OnPoint,
and receive the free ebook, Empowerment and Stress Secrets
for the Busy Professional.
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