Once you’ve hired your “A” team members, how can you keep them engaged and working to their full potential? Even if benefits and raises were available, they can’t be the solution.
As one VC told me, “There are many factors that contribute to an employee’s desire to work to their potential…the mindset they bring to the startup is one thing. The rest is up to the founder.”
According to an industry-wide SHRM survey of 14,500 workers in 2017, only 15% of workers claimed to be working to their potential on a regular basis. The survey found that employees work to their full potential when:
they are clear about expectations.
they feel safe asking questions.
they are not overwhelmed with rules and unproductive meetings.
their suggestions are taken seriously
there are rewards and recognition for jobs well done.
supervisors demonstrate a high level of emotional intelligence.
they see purpose and meaning in their work.
At your next meeting, get some feedback from your team on each point. See how you can ignite greater motivation and commitment by doing your part.
Notice how all those factors are related to communication? Need help? Contact me at Rebecca@MindfulCommunication.com
Let’s get to the core of problems with motivation. There are lots of reasons to explore. Before you go and waste money on free lunches and bungee-jumping retreats, take a few minutes to see what lies behind your team’s sluggish behavior. There may be reasons that are not so obvious:
Are job expectations clear ( task process, quality, cooperation, deadlines)? See if they can tell you straight up what you expect. There is likely some confusion there.
Do they understand why their job is important? Show them how their part is essential to the mission and the company goals.
Are you late in delivering performance reviews? It’s not only the raise they hope for, but it’s the kudos and the inspiration for improvement they crave. Employees feel jilted and de-valued if reviews are late. Review time gives them a chance to be heard and recognized one on one.
Are they a good fit for their position? Have they the right skills, tenacity and personality for the job they are paid to perform?
Is there any uncertainty about their job security or the company’s goals, aside from the usual uncertainty associated with starting a new business? Mixed messages or no communication from the founders stunts follow through and drains enthusiasm.
Have there been any big changes in personnel that have affected morale? Removing a player who was toxic to you but a mentor to one or more of your employees will take time to get over.
Do they have the resources to do their jobs well? I don’t mean fancy software or private offices. I mean opportunities for job training or short workshops on topics about personal growth?
Did you know that my new Lunchtime Learning sessions deliver a boost of insight and motivation for getting things done, done well and on time? Contact me at Rebecca@MindfulCommunication.com
Don’t think for a minute that motivation is available 24/7 to high achievers. Many successful entrepreneurs need to jump-start their day with morning rituals, strong coffee, prayer, lots more prayer etc. Others go to outrageous extents. For example, I met a couple who hired a former Navy Seal to burst into their house, yell and call them names until they finished their big projects… (I took his number, just in case!)
What make these jump-start activities effective is what they do for our brains. These activities release extra calming (serotonin) or energizing (dopamine, endorphins, BDNF,etc) brain chemicals. The release of these chemicals brings us to action. We love the Seals, but they can be rather loud and expensive. Instead, consider a simple, practical and self-driven method that creates just enough spark to get you started − called “A then B.”
1) Select a physical activity (Activity A) that will spark enough motivational juice needed for your must-do activity (Activity B). Activity A should be a desirable activity that puts you in a good mood and pushes you physically a bit beyond your comfort zone. Activity A should take no longer than 30 minutes.
2) Identify the task (Activity B) you need to complete or get started on. Today, for example, I have a boatload of writing that I love to do, but it means a few sets of two hour stints in a chair. It being a sunny and warmer Sunday, it’s the sitting for hours part that I’m not psyched about.
To get my brain’s chemistry working for me, I have elected a winter bike ride (Activity A). It is a physical and mental challenge greater than the mental challenge (Activity B) that awaits. So, today I suited up for a cold and windy 30 minute ride. I pumped up my tires (already uncomfortable) and chose the nastiest bunch of hills I could find (really uncomfortable). As I pushed up those hills, I could feel my brain’s juices ramping up, as I surpassed my comfort zone to the top. I said to myself with a big grin, “If I can do this, then I have the fortitude to sit for the rest of the afternoon and pull off some mighty good writing. It will be awesome!” My KITA (I’ll let you figure out what that stands for) bike ride, gave my brain enough of a boost to hunker down and meet my writing quota for the day.
You don’t need to go to those extremes. Just be sure to add some self-mentoring talk to Activity A as you take a fast walk around the block, or do 25 good pushups and 20 jumping jacks, or bicep curls with cans of tomatoes− something that gets your heart pumping and your mind in gear to execute Activity B.
Let me know how the “A then B” strategy works for you!
Need some help in getting things done well and on time? We can do this! Read more about my CoreFour Coaching for COREageous Entrepreneurs. Write to me at Rebecca@mindfulcommuication.com
Rebecca’s CoreFour Coaching
"It takes more than courage to be an Entrepreneur, it takes CORE." Find out more.
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Once you’ve hired your “A” team members, how can you keep them engaged and working to their full potential? Even if benefits and raises were available, they can’t be the solution.
Let’s get to the core of problems with motivation. There are lots of reasons to explore. Before you go and waste money on free lunches and bungee-jumping retreats, take a few minutes to see what lies behind your team’s sluggish behavior. There may be reasons that are not so obvious:
Don’t think for a minute that motivation is available 24/7 to high achievers. Many successful entrepreneurs need to jump-start their day with morning rituals, strong coffee, prayer, lots more prayer etc. Others go to outrageous extents. For example, I met a couple who hired a former Navy Seal to burst into their house, yell and call them names until they finished their big projects… (I took his number, just in case!)
"It takes more than courage to be an Entrepreneur, it takes CORE."