Management Rules: 50 New Rules for Managers

CHAPTER 4

HOW TO MOTIVATE YOUR TEAM: PRACTICE

You do not need books or psychobabble to work out how to motivate people. Start by thinking about the best boss you have ever worked for. What did the boss do to motivate you so well? Do you do the same things with your team?

In practice, most of us respond to some simple motivational measures. Here are my top ten:

1. Show you care for each member of the team, and for their career. Invest time to understand their hopes, their fears and dreams. Casual time by the coffee machine, not a formal meeting in an office, is the best way to get to know your team members.

2. Say thank you. We all crave recognition: ...