Whether you are a small business owner or a solopreneur, one thing is sure - you need other people around you to be successful at your work. In this quick tips episode, Mari-Liis Vaher shares 5 ways to motivate people around you to grow, become more successful and productive.
But when it comes to people, we always must consider psychology. Every person is first and foremost interested in their own life, and they are not eagerly just waiting for somebody to come along and tell them what to do. Teamwork needs consistent work and one of the most important questions for any leader is - how to motivate people around you?
It can be hard sometimes but remember that first and foremost, we are not rational, but emotional beings and we need encouragement, we need to feel like we belong, experience success, prove ourselves to others etc.
Science has found that positive emotions are at the root of human motivation. Knowing how to motivate each person means you need to have a basic understanding of human behavior - what makes people tick.
So, let’s take a look at 5 ways to help you motivate people around you at work:
- Number 1 is to be available for them and have time for them: spending more one-on-one time with them to hear their suggestions, ideas, problems and issues. People should know when you are available for them, and please make sure you will give them your undivided attention then.
- Number 2 is to inspire them: in the employer-employee relationship, be a leader with a clear vision and tell them stories that would help them better understand why-what-for whom your company is meant for and how it helps people.
- Number 3 is to push them out of their comfort zones gently so they can grow: let them learn! Give them meaningful new skills or knowledge in other areas that they can use to leverage their natural strengths for future roles, whether with their current company or another company. Involve and challenge them. If possible give them a change to host a meeting or do something else they usually don't do but what you see that they are capable of doing
- Number 4 is to appreciate, celebrate and reward them. This truly is a powerful motivator to get their commitment.
- Number 5 is to believe in them and trust them. Give them the autonomy to decide how the work will be done, within certain parameters. You can help them with questions like: what do you need right now to do your job better? How would you solve this problem or what do you think we should do here?
There are numerous things you can do on top of it, but the basics are always there with us: we are human beings, needing belonging, success, experiences and someone to believe in us. When people around you find this in their work, it not only improves that person's happiness, it also boosts productivity.