Two factors influence how individuals perform in their varied environments, including the workplace: personal motivation and the leadership that is in place, according to the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development in Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. By practicing individual and group exercises, managers can serve as leadership examples while employees can work toward achieving greater motivation and productivity in their workplaces.
Dream Big
Take time out of your daily routine to imagine what your ideal life would be like, advises the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Programs and Activities Office. Consider all aspects of your life -- education, career, personal relationships. Don't limit yourself to what seems practical or what you can accomplish right away. Once you've formed a mental picture of the life you want, write down a list of specific long-term goals. Develop a plan of action with specific steps on how you will achieve your goals.
Give People What They Want
Brainstorm with your staff for benefits that suit their particular circumstances. Everyone needs a basic source of income, but besides wages, ask what perks would make employees happy. Older workers may want a bigger pension plan, while young parents may opt for flex-time hours to spend more time with their families, Lyndsay Swinton explains on Management for the Rest of Us, or MFTROU.com. Workers who feel as though management and human resources are responsive to their needs are more motivated and less likely to look elsewhere, Swinton writes.
Tip of Iceberg
The "Psychological Contracts Iceberg Model" exercise can help management and workers better understand one another and their respective positions, Businessballs.com states. Divide the workgroup into pairs or have each person work individually to fill in a diagram divided vertically in half of items. At the top of the diagram on either side, add "work" and "pay" above a horizontal line, which serves as the "surface" of the diagram. At the bottom of the "work" column, add the word "employee" and add the word "employer" below the "pay column.
Each pair or individual is charged with filling in the columns with terms or phrases that apply to the company or to that individual's own circumstances. Examples of items below the work column would be "performance," "commitment" and "innovation." Items below the pay column could include "work/life balance," "benefits" and "respect."
Lead By Example
Set an example for employees or co-workers by maintaining your determination to move forward despite setbacks. A focused leader can motivate an entire workgroup to be more productive, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Programs and Activities Office states. Make a list of four or five priorities for each day and work diligently to complete them. While emergencies may occur, minor disruptions should not deter you from accomplishing everything on your list.
References
- Newfoundland Labrador Innovation, Trade and Rural Development: Community and Capacity Building Resource Materials
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Programs and Activities Office: Motivation
- MFTROU.com: Effective Business Leadership; 7 Team Work and Motivation Tips
- Businessballs.com: Free Team-Building Activities Ideas
- Businessballs.com: Psychological Contracts "Iceberg" Model
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