I was facilitating a workshop on implementing a
strategic plan. We spent a lot of time discussing staff engagement. It seemed
to be a major issue. I asked the eight participants from different projects the
question: “How do you motivate staff to get more engaged in their work?” I was
shocked. Together they came up with 89 ideas! They were overflowing with
creative ways to motivate and inspire staff.
We limit our thinking when we assume that staff are simply motivated by
external rewards. We are misguided if we think motivation is all about salaries
and benefits. Research reveals a different reality. The top motivator for staff
performance is not salary; instead, it is being recognized for a job well done.
People usually respond well to positive, truthful feedback from others. Genuine
and encouraging words cost nothing. Yet somehow, despite their positive impact
on performance, they are still surprisingly rare.
This
week:
Whom
do you need to motivate?
What
really makes them tick and how could you motivate them?
Motivating Others
Elaine Vitikainen
