Leadership Lessons Blog

Motivating Employees: Leadership Lessons

  

  

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The January/February issue of Harvard Business Review wrote a great article entiled, "What Really Motivates Workers?"  by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer.   I found the central theme of the article quite interesting.  Most leaders assume that employees are motivated by money, reward systems or recognition.  I would have agreed with them, but the study conducted by Amabile and Kramer over a multi-year study in a wide variety of industries found that workers are MOST motivated by "progress."  

Workers want to feel that at the end of a work day they are making a difference in their jobs, or when they receive support to overcome obstacles and their energy level is at its greatest when their "drive to succeed is at its peak."  Worker are most disheartened when they feel demotivated or when they are somehow thwarted in their efforts to make forward progress.  There exists an inherent connection between employee motivation and meeting job objectives.  Even minor accomplishments help workers feel good about what they do. 

So why is this important for leaders to know?  The key to helping your employees become more motivated and emotionally invested in the job is in your hands!  Managers have total control over helping their employees achieve goals.  You can provide guidance, assist them with overcoming obstacles in their work and you can encourage them to succeed. 

It also means that you have to be decisive, adhere to goals and objectives and hold employees accountable for results.  Changes in the work place requiring shifting of responsibilities, downsizing or reorganizing are the most difficult times to keep employees motivated.  During these times, continue to make sure that employees are focusing on the goals.  Celebrate progress often and on a regular basis and your employees will continue to achieve progress on a daily basis.