Why You Should Actively Shape Team Motivation

First published on LinkedIn.

Now that we’re officially in the final quarter for 2024, let’s make this final sprint count!

This month we're talking about motivation. And as you can see from the poll results, an overwhelming number of people are motivated at work through manager trust and support. This is great news! But there are still around 16% of those who are not motivated at work.

As we rush towards the end of the year, stress will be at an all time high. To help combat this, I want to share some tips with you on how to help your teams stay motivated over the next few months. 

But why emphasize motivation?

Well, it directly affects performance and productivity at work. Would you want to continue giving your best effort on a project you’re not motivated to do? Probably not.

Plus it helps increase job satisfaction. With higher job satisfaction, you’ll have lower turnover. 

Helping foster motivation will boost morale and assist in achieving team goals. Managers will need to be intentional while actively shaping productivity and morale on their teams. Having clearly defined SMART goals can also help.

There are 2 main categories for motivation:

• Extrinsic motivation: Comes from external factors such as raises or bonuses, extra vacation time, or staff parties. These are commonly referred to as fringe benefits.

• Intrinsic motivation: Comes from internal factors, such as curiosity, ambition, or a strong personal desire to get a job done or help the team complete a task. When employees have internal motivation, they are more likely to put in more effort at work because they care about what they’re doing. This is something every manager hopes to foster.

Motivation needs to be actively shaped by team leaders – who are also Culture Champions. It cannot be passive! A leader should be empathetic and transparent, providing clear communication and vision to help inspire and energize team members. The importance of genuinely caring about a team's well-being and development cannot be overstated.

Middle managers have the highest touch points , meaning they impact team morale the most! McKinsey found that relationships with management account for 86% of workers’ satisfaction with their interpersonal ties at work. This is why it is key to support middle managers and help foster motivation across teams.

How to Foster Team Motivation

• Success Stories & Milestones: Share stories of individual or team successes, such as project completions or sales milestones. Public recognition is highly valued and can serve as inspiration for others.

• Leadership Messages: Regular updates or messages from leadership can help align teams with the company’s vision and goals, reinforcing their importance in the organization.

• Feedback Mechanisms: Implement communication forums that allow for feedback in a psychologically safe and confidential way. Employees who feel seen, valued, and heard have more trust in their managers, encouraging enhanced communication and productivity.

• Clearly Define Goals: Having a sense of direction and purpose can help employees stay motivated. Make the goal-setting process inclusive by collaborating with team members on setting realistic expectations.

• Provide Development Opportunities: Support your team and help them grow. When they have their manager’s help to learn and develop, they will be more likely to stay motivated in their work.

High-performing teams that foster a psychologically safe environment were more likely to:

• Catch or admit mistakes early

• Integrate diverse ideas and perspectives

• Come up with innovative ideas and problem solving techniques

• Take risks

• Experience better productivity

Remember, motivation is a soft skill with hard consequences. Team members were initially hired for their capabilities and capacity, now it’s a manager's to help them unlock their full potential!

And remain mindful and aware of inequitable practices, such as discrimination and retaliation, which can also greatly harm team morale. Boosting team motivation is not an easy nor simple task, which separates good managers from GREAT.

What are some ways YOUR manager has motivated you? I want to hear from YOU! Come share your thoughts on my LinkedIn Newsletter!

For all managers and anyone interested, this is your opportunity to better your performance management skills – check out my new LinkedIn Learning course on performance management!

In this course, I teach you the types of bias that can impact performance management—and how to identify and overcome managerial bias. You will learn about the key performance management practices that mitigate bias, the role of diversity and inclusion in performance management, and tools and technologies for bias mitigation.

Please be sure to check it out and provide feedback!

October Observances

• Global Diversity Awareness Month: This month, celebrate the diverse minds and beliefs held by all cultures around the world. We live in a multicultural society and embracing the values of various cultures only strengthens our understanding and appreciation of the world. Open your mind to new views and ideas, appreciate cultural differences, and enjoy a fresh perspective you may have been missing.

• Black History Month - in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and The Netherlands: This national celebration aims to promote and celebrate the contributions of those with African and Caribbean heritage to UK, Ireland, and The Netherlands to help foster an understanding of Black history in general.

• National Disability Employment Awareness Month: This month was established to increase awareness of the positive outcomes of hiring persons with disabilities. The aim is to educate the general public on the issues that workers with disabilities face and how employers can be more inclusive in their hiring practices.

• LGBTQ+ History Month: This month celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender icons. Each day in October, a new LGBTQ+ Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images, and other resources.

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month: In 2024, more than 360,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer. But there is hope. Advancements in early detection methods and support continue to increase the chances of survival. When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the 5-year relative survival rate of breast cancer is 99%.

• Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Recognized each October through educational events, community gatherings, and support groups. In 2018, the Domestic Violence Awareness Project developed a unified theme: #1Thing. The purpose of this campaign is to remind everyone that ending domestic violence starts with just one small action, whether that is seeking help or sharing resources.

• National Work and Family Month: Businesses around the United States are pushed to foster healthy and flexible work cultures during this time. The campaign’s purpose is to remind employers of the commercial advantages of sponsoring work-life effectiveness initiatives. Our families now come in many forms and sizes. Families have numerous obligations between personal life, work, and family, which is why achieving a good balance is crucial. 

• Filipino American History Month: Filipino Americans are the second-largest Asian-American community in the U.S., and are the third-largest racial group in California. Their contributions to our country are exemplary and their achievements are recognized and celebrated throughout this designated month. 

• Polish American Heritage Month: This month is celebrated to commemorate the first Polish settlers, and celebrate the history and culture of the Polish community in America.

• October 3: Latina Equal Pay Day. Latinas are one of the fastest growing, most powerful groups in the United States. Latinas working full-time, year-round are paid $.57 and all earners (including part-time and seasonal) are paid $.52 for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men.

• October 10: World Mental Health Day. First celebrated in 1993, this day is meant to increase public awareness about the importance of mental health, mental health services, and mental health workers worldwide. This year’s official theme is: ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace.'

• October 11: National Coming Out Day. For those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, this day celebrates coming out and the recognition of the 1987 march on Washington for gay and lesbian equality. This day raises awareness for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community, and champions the idea that homophobia thrives in silence.

• October 11: International Day of the Girl. A day dedicated to celebrating the voices and power of girls, championing their rights worldwide, and reflecting on the challenges they continue to face because of their gender. The 2024 International Day of the Girl theme is ‘Girls’ vision for the future’. This year’s theme conveys both the need for urgent action and persistent hope, driven by the power of girls’ voices and vision for the future.

• October 14: Canadian Thanksgiving. A chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year.

• October 14: National Indigenous Peoples Day in the US. An alternative celebration to Columbus Day, gives recognition to the Indigenous populations affected by colonization.

• October 16: International Pronouns Day. This day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace.

Until next month... Be well and stay safe & healthy!