Motivation

Submitted by Josh Culp
in
Manager Tools Trinity
BLUF: I am trying to find out what it is that makes my directs get out of bed and come to work. This way I can find out how to keep them motivated. I know a paycheck is a good motivation however my directs can get paid doing any job. I want to find out what it is that makes them keep coming here. I interact with my directs on a daily basis but I (as a manager) have a hard time nailing their motivator down to one or two things that I can focus on with them. I'd like to take the approach of tailoring work for my directs to keep them engaged in their job, instead of telling them "do it because it's your job". Any ideas or questions that may help?? Josh
Submitted by Inactive Membe… on Saturday January 3rd, 2009 2:07 pm

Ask them.

Just talk them through the paragraph you wrote in your post.
They'll tell you - if they believe you're interested in them.

Good for you!
-Hugh

Submitted by John Hack on Saturday January 3rd, 2009 8:23 pm

They broadcast their behavioral and motivational profiles, if you know what to look for. The DISC model is very useful, as it focuses on observable traits rather than internal states. This is the foundation cast:

http://www.manager-tools.com/2006/02/improve-your-feedback

and the members only casts on DISC which followed it go into much more detail.

Highly recommended casts, broadly applicable.

John Hack

Submitted by Tom Hausmann on Sunday January 4th, 2009 3:07 pm

What Hugh said. Ask them in your one-on-ones. Pay attention to each person on your team *individually* and you will learn over time.

Submitted by Rob Redmond on Sunday January 4th, 2009 3:48 pm

This sounds like a catch 22. You want to find out what motivates them at work... because they are not motivated? They may not even know, having never experienced being motivated at work by anything other than money. Expect them to tell you "Money", which by the way is not what motivates people at work. That's what motivates people to fear their boss and have a job in the first place.

IMO, the same things motivate all people at work:

* The feeling that you are contributing something worthwhile to the human condition and helping people.
* Conviction of your own competence and your team's performance
* Regularly hearing in a polite, professional way how you are doing - with most of it being positive, praise, cheering on for them and their success. That means feedback and being able to see what you do work within the big machine.

Along with some other things, but those are the big ones. I think you might enjoy First Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham. Gallup has already conducted a massive survey on this topic and boiled it all down to twelve questions. The book provides a path through those 12 questions on your way to improving morale.

-Rob

Submitted by Matthew Helm on Tuesday January 13th, 2009 6:17 am

Hi Josh,

I remember reading or hearing once that people don't go to work for the money, they go to work so that the money doesn't stop.

I've always found that useful. If you rely on pay or 'it's your job' to motivate people, all you'll only get just enough that they don't get fired - i.e. the money doesn't stop.

I'll second Rob's recommendation of First Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham. It's an excellent book.

Otherwise, it is just a case of probing questions. Obviously the better your relationship, the more you can probe. I'd ask things like:

"What do you like most about your job?" then "Why?"
"What is your ideal job?" then "Why?"
"What would you like to be doing in 2 years time?"
"What job would you like in this company?"
"What aspect of work do you find most rewarding?"
"What have you done recently that you've felt good about afterwards?"

Always ask "Why?" once you get the answer, because the reasons for their answer are more important to you than the answer itself. The reasons for each answer will give you an insight into the motivation behind their thoughts.

If you can, ask about things outside work too:
"What hobbies do you do outside of work?" then "What is it you find rewarding about them?"
"What have you enjoyed most in previous jobs?"

You could even get a bit philosophical:
"What matters most to you in life?"
"What would you say are the values you live by?"

Again, always ask for an explanation once they've answered, because the explanation will tell you the motivation behind their answers, which is what you're after.

Hope that helps,
Matt