Whether you run your own business or work for a company as a manager/team leader, being able to lead and motivate your staff is a vital skill. Here are some tips that you may find useful:
1. The surroundings in which people work have a great effect on their morale. If their surroundings are pleasant, and the equipment they work with is effective, their morale will be high. So do all you can to make the work place pleasant. Money spent on such things as decorating, proper lighting and the right equipment is not wasted – it is an investment.
2. Always give clear instructions and make sure they are fully understood. If your workers are unsure of what to do, how can they be well motivated?
3. Keep people informed. When they know how well the company is doing, or how efficient their department is, it increases their commitment to the company. However, don’t pass on confidential information about the company. And think very carefully before telling them that the company is doing badly as it may make them feel unsettled.
4. People work better when you give them plenty of attention. You can do this in several ways without appearing to be constantly checking up on them.
(a) Make yourself available. When they have an issue, you should find time to see them. But arrange this so that they’re not constantly interrupting you and wasting your time.
(b) Always be ready to help and guide your workers when they need it. If you ignore requests for help you will cause resentment and lose respect. Try to make your workers feel that you care about them.
(c) When workers do a particularly good job, praise them for it. A little praise is great for morale. But be careful – if you give too much praise people will come to expect it and it will lose its effect.
5. Most people like to feel part of a team – it makes them feel secure. This helps to explain why team games (such as football) are so popular, both to play and to watch. So if you can create a team spirit in your department you will generate enthusiasm and improve morale. To develop this team spirit, you have to make everyone in your department feel committed to their work.
6. One way to do this is to set targets for the whole department to achieve. It will help even more if you can give rewards for special effort. However, such rewards must always be linked to achievement. If they come to be expected automatically, the morale-boosting effect will be lost.
7. Your staff will respect you more if they know that you understand their jobs and can, if necessary, do them yourself. So show, don’t just tell!
8. From time to time, every manager has to discipline a member of his staff. When this is necessary, do it quickly, but don’t be aggressive. The ideal is to be firm and fair. Never be afraid to discipline a worker when it is needed. If you do nothing, you will be considered weak and lose respect. Good workers expect you to discipline those who are taking advantage.
9. Lead by example. For instance, if you want everyone in your department to arrive at work on time, you must also arrive on time. You will lose credibility and respect if you tell your workers one thing and then do the opposite yourself. You can’t ban private phone calls in the office if you make them yourself. Your staff will follow your example. Remember, actions speak louder than words.
As you can see, leading and motivating people isn’t easy. Developing leadership qualities is something that most people have to work at. But if you always try to set a good example, that your staff can follow, they will naturally respect you.
If you want to increase your knowledge of all aspects of business, in addition to improving your use of the English language (both written and spoken) then you might want to consider enrolling on the Business English with Spoken English Diploma Course. And to make it easier for you we have a special offer which means you can save £25 if you enrol before 17th April!
Author: Diana Nadin
