Motivating staff in 4 easy steps

Are your staff blatantly unwilling to work? Do you walk past the office to hear the gossip corner at full volume? Do you wonder if it wouldn’t just be better to get rid of the team and do the work yourself? This is a problem faced by many project managers when managing a project, and is a sign that your project is not going well. A project management course will help you understand how to plan and manage projects, but this article focuses on how to motivate your project team members to get the results your project needs.

Unmotivated staff are not just frustrating to yourself, they will cause tension between team members and even jeopardise your office performance. Spending time figuring out how to motivate your staff will yield high benefits in terms of teamwork, productivity and job satisfaction – for all involved.

1) Identify the problem

Whenever you start a new project, the very first thing that you have to do is identify the problem. If you do not understand why your staff are unmotivated then you cannot hope to resolve the issue.

Talk to the staff member in private. Specify the instances of unmotivated behaviour and the effects that it has on you team objectives.

For example, somebody who consistently turns in shoddy work may be putting quality standards at risk. Somebody who distracts other team members with constant talking may be jeopardising the time limit for a project. A team member who takes a tea break between every letter that they write is increasing the workload of the rest of the staff.

If appropriate, ask why this particular behaviour is occurring. Listen to the reply. Use your body language to reassure. Do not accuse. Fear and resentment do not lead to motivation.

2) Involve your staff

If your staff are interested in your goal, then they are more likely to be motivated to achieve it.

Increasing responsibility can increase interest and investment. This does not mean giving your staff more to do, but giving them tasks of greater importance and complexity. Allow your staff to find creative solutions to problems, and the pride that they feel as a result will do the work of motivation for you.

3) Follow formal routes

If necessary, inform the unmotivated staff member of the consequences of continuing with the undesirable behaviour. If motivation does not improve, then follow the procedures that you have indicated.

Reacting in a formal but fair way, and with due warning, will allow the staff member the chance to alter unmotivated behaviour, but will also demonstrate to all members of the team that you will not tolerate people who do not pull their weight.

4) Set an example

If you are seen more often at the coffee machine than at your desk, your staff will have no qualms about dawdling over the biscuit tin. If you make it clear that you think your work objective is pointless, then your staff will have no reason to invest their own energy in the project.

Making your motivation, dedication and energy clear will motivate your staff, increase their own commitment to your goal and turn your unmotivated, disgruntled task into an enthusiastic team.