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Effective Management: The 5 Golden Rules of Motivating
As a manager, major part of your role is to get the best from the people that you manage. You know that a motivated employee will go that extra step to deliver or help you to deliver results. So what are the 5 golden rules when it comes to motivating?
Rule 1: Get to know your people
Yes you probably know who all of your staff are, their job title and what they do. On the other hand do you really know what it is that motivates the people you manage. While everyone needs to earn a wage, each of us has different things that motivate us. For some it will be being supported, for others it will be about having autonomy and others might thrive on challenge. If you don’t know what motivates people you could easily end up de-motivating people by using inappropriate strategies.
Rule 2: Make time for those that you manage
Most managers are busy people and no doubt you are to. When you have your deadlines to meet and results to deliver it is all too easy to forget about the people that you manage. If you fail to set aside time for interacting with the people that you manage it simply will not happen. If your boss never made any time for you, how motivated would you be?
Rule 3: Make a point of noticing effort and achievement
The best mangers realise that time spent letting people know that you are aware of the effort they are making or the result that they have delivered is time well spent. All of us to a greater or lesser extent thrive on getting feedback so don’t lose out on the opportunity.
Rule 4: Create a sense of excitement
All jobs after a while become more routine and less fresh and exciting. As the manager you need to try and keep that sense of excitement in roles. This might be by challenging people to find new or better ways of doing something or giving them more freedom to do things their way.
Rule 5: Remember it is rarely about money
Yes everyone needs to earn what they view is a reasonable rate of pay for the time, expertise and effort that they have given. On the other hand study after study into what matters to employees reveal that the source of dissatisfaction is rarely just about money. Make a point of keeping the things that make people tick at the forefront of your mind.
Bottom Line – A happy, motivated team of people who you manage can help you deliver great results. So what do you need to give more attention to in order to be a more successful manager?
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.