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Solutions September 2005
By
Jeff Long
Empowering
Managers Help Employees Motivate
Themselves
We
don’t motivate people; we
influence what they are motivated
to do. People are motivated to
do what they believe is in their
best interests. We know they feel
most motivated when they have
an opportunity to help one another,
when they understand how their
work adds value, and when they
are empowered to make decisions
about their work.
We
all have different needs, and
those needs change over time.
People become motivated to do
a good job when it helps them
meet one or more of their personal
needs. For example, a person may
seek a safe and comfortable environment
that offers a fair and competitive
salary. Some people need to feel
included or require constant feedback
and reassurance. Regardless of
what employees’ needs are,
it’s up to us to ensure
their needs are met if we expect
good work performance.
Helping
your employees achieve their own
motivational needs is one of the
most powerful steps we can take,
because when employees rely on
themselves to stay motivated,
they start accepting responsibility
for themselves. This type of empowerment
unleashes tremendous energy. When
you give them responsibility with
authority, they feel you trust
them and value them. It’s
a win/win: Your employees become
motivated, and, at the same time,
they are happier and perform better.
Give
your employees the opportunity
to gain more control over their
lives by delegating and giving
them more latitude. They will
become stronger and bring more
enthusiasm and energy to their
jobs. They will start believing
in themselves, and their self-confidence
will increase. The key isn’t
giving employees motivation; instead,
give them responsibility for achieving
something, and they will find
their own motivation.
The
best way to achieve higher performance
is to help your employees grow.
Listen to what they have to say
and encourage them to set performance
goals. Be explicit in specifying
their responsibilities, and let
them know you appreciate their
efforts. You can help your employees
raise their own performance expectations
by measuring what gets done.
Employees
truly “buy in” when
they decide to invest their abilities
and energies. So involve them,
treat them like partners, and
they will feel a sense of ownership
and be more motivated to buy into
the company’s objectives.
Employees today want the opportunity
to contribute to how an organization
is run. Help them understand how
your company operates, including
its mission and goals.
Stimulate
and challenge your employees by
giving them some flexibility,
removing obstacles and providing
the tools they need. Respect them,
invest in their development through
training, and share their successes
with them. Employees who find
satisfaction in doing their jobs
definitely perform better.
Rejuvenate
and renew the vitality and energy
in your organization so that your
employees look forward to the
future. Let your leadership style
show your values and beliefs.
Be truthful and straightforward,
generate team spirit, unify and
build cohesiveness. That is how
you become “The Best”!
Jeff
Long is marketing director of
manufacturer Graphic Dimensions
Inc., based in Atlanta, and president
of DMIA.
“The
best way to achieve higher performance
is to help your employees grow.”
