Can you motivate?  Yes or no?  Do you consider this part of  your role as a manager?

Question 2:  Why don’t employees perform? 

Many times I hear….lack of training, tools, knowledge, lack of engagement, , unclear goals, personal issues, lack direction, no feedback …..and…they don’t care, they lack purpose, they’re lazy.  Ugh.  But if you can motivate them, and that’s your job.  What’s the disconnect?  Why would there be people who are unmotivated if we can motivate them?

The reality is that people are already motivated.  They may not, however, be motivated to what you want them to do.  Your job is to create an environment in which others are motivated to perform at their best.  Bring out their motivation, their energy.

How?  What are all the ways you can motivate? And do you know the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivators?

Extrinsic motivators are from outside of you, intrinsic motivators are from within you.  

One is about what I receive after I complete a task, which may be expected or unexpected.  The other is about the experience while I’m completing the task.  

• Which is more common?  = Extrinsic
• More sustainable? = Intrinsic
• More difficult to execute?   Intrinsic

While we can’t change who people are, what we can do is help them to discover their intrinsic motivators. And also connect or align intrinsic motivators with things that maybe we enjoy less.

Here are 4 ways to begin to understand intrinsic motivation:

1. Take a strengths assessment:  See, Discover Your Strengths, by Don Clifton (from Gallup)
2. Explore a work based personality assessments:  I am an authorized partner for these tools (which are AWESOME!), and I have vast experince in the versions for managers, individual contributors and leaders which have a behavioral focus and are excellent tools about our energy (and what drains us!). Contact me for more info on DiSC!
3. Consider the Individual Dimensions Inventory:   this is an assessment tool from Management Research Group, and focuses on the emotional satisfaction we get from work related dimensions (I am also certified on this tool and can also get you more information if you are interested)
4. Take a values inventory:  learn your core beliefs; are they aligned with what you are doing?  The Values Institute on Character offers a freebie:  The VIA Survey: 31 Ways to Recognize Your Strengths and Act on Them (positivepsychology.com)

Planting some leadership seeds:

• Understand various types of motivators; get to know your employees and their preferences for both extrinsic and intrinsic motivators.
• Use extrinsic strategically:  be thoughtful, reinforce specifics, point out what you want more of from others around you.
• Do a wellness check up on you:  choose one of the 4 ways to identify motivators, discover something new about yourself—where are you aligned in being intrinsically motivated, where are you not in alignment?
• Take action, one small step to strengthen the motivational environment for you, for your team.

Learn about goal setting AND the link to motivat

Be the Best Leader You Know

Perform with Power, Lead with Impact, Inspire Growth

To sharpen your skills and increase your confidence, check out the Confident Leader Course:  https://www.intentionaleaders.com/confident-leader