3 Foolproof Ways to Motivate Your Team

3 Areas to Focus On As A Leader

August 20, 2024 | Teamwork & Career
By Adam Gragg

Young Professionals Having Meeting in Glass Office

You might be surprised at what motivates your team. Some leaders believe money motivates. While money is a factor, long-term team motivation comes from much more.

3 Keys to Long-Term Team Motivation

1. Make Conflict Safe

Healthy conflict builds & creates intimacy. Avoiding conflict creates & increases anxiety. Addressing core issues consistently will motivate your team.

Companies Lack Emotional Safety When ……..

Performance expectations are not clear.
Peoples are not held accountable to meeting work expectations.
Bad behavior is tolerated (e.g. gossip, dishonesty, etc.).
Leaders don’t do what they say they are going to do.
Leadership lacks a unified message about the direction of the company.
Diversity is lacking in its various forms (age, gender, cultural, ect.).

Make Your Team Safe By ……….

Own it when you drop the ball as a leader.
Teaching the team how communicate effectively.
Be rigorously honest.
Having clear expectations for everyone.
Addressing poor behavior swiftly (sometimes through termination).
Following through on commitments.
Considering different viewpoints.
Removing toxic people swiftly.
Have 7 times more encouragment than constructive feedback.

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2. Foster Healthy Connection

They consistently create opportunities for relationships to form and go deeper. Members spend quality time together. Activities are intentionally planned, and employees looks forward to these times together. They have FUN together as a team!

Encourage Connection at Work By …..

Planning regular social gatherings (e.g. birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)
Using icebreakers and conversation starters consistently at meetings
Learning together (e.g. reading books, attending training & conferences, etc.)
Engaging in fun activities (e.g. games, meals, escape rooms, axe throwing, etc.)
Utilizing a personality tool like the DISC to better understand one another.
Learning how to listen by paraphrasing what the other person said to prove you understood.
Curiously asking great questions to get people thinking and will motivate your team.

3. Highlight the Meaning Behind Everything

Many companies have core values, goals, and vision statements, yet very few companies consistently reinforce what these things mean. Highlight the backstory consistently, creatively, and repeatedly. Improve your work environment by talking openly with your team about why the company exists (purpose), how you act (core values), where you’re heading (vision), and the company history. Make decisions (e.g. purchasing a building, hiring, partnerships, etc.) that align with your company purpose, values, and vision.

How to Convey Meaning

Post goals for all to see, and review them consistently.
Share why you’re so passionate about the purpose of the company.
Discuss your company core values and highlight when employees model these behaviors.
Frequently discus your company/family purpose, mission, and vision.
Engage in company and family traditions consistently, plan them into the schedule.
Create new traditions and discuss the meaning behind them.
Hire people that align with the values, purpose, and vision (e.g., the Meaning).
Celebrate when members live out the purpose, mission, vision of the business.
Talk about the history of your company and family.

Below is an image that illustrates the Connection, Conflict & Meaning model. All 3 are crucial to motivating your team. Hire Decide Your Legacy to work with your team on applying this model throughout your organization.

Create a great team or family culture by focusing on connection, conflict, and meaning. Follow the race car driver’s axiom that says, “You have to slow down in order to go fast.” I hope is that you slow down enough to evaluate your family or workplace in these three areas.