A Paycheck Isn't Enough
Take note of these three themes inherent to motivating
people:
I
n today's business environment, motivating people
1. Helping people find meaning
to be their best is more crucial than ever. Many
2. Strengthening personal qualities
people look to their supervisor or team leader to
3. Fostering commitment beyond the job
supply the inspiration for becoming fully engaged in
Helping People Find Meaning at Work
the work they do.
D
It's up to you to map the path that leads to the results
o your employees find meaning and purpose in
you need. Only through inspirational leadership can
their work? If not, what can you do to help them
leaders help their employees deliver excellent
achieve it?
performance that enables companies to boost
You don't need expensive training programs or complex
profitability and thrive during rough times.
compensation plans to connect your people to what
Even in a healthy economy, you must supply more
really matters to them. Instead, create a sense of
than a paycheck to motivate people to perform
"we're all in this together" by sharing what you know
optimally. Meaningful work is more important than
about the company's business plans.
money for most people. They want to feel they're
When employees know as much as management does
part of something larger than themselves--needed and
about the company's financial situation and business
challenged. They enjoy learning new skills, growing in
plans, they feel a sense of mutual partnership.
their jobs and ascending to higher levels. They want
to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to
Get to know what motivates each of your employees.
worthy achievements.
You can determine this by observing their level of
A steady paycheck, great benefits and perks won't
enthusiasm and interest in various parts of a project,
inspire people to excel. Leaders and managers must
be it the tech side of how things work or their
make motivation an integral part of their daily job if
desire to lead the team. You can then adapt your
they hope to build the kind of workforce necessary to
communication style and recognition systems to each
succeed in the 21st century.
person's intrinsic motivation.
Is Motivation an Inside or Outside Job?
"We still haven't learned that you can't enroll people's
loyalty and creativity if you're not willing to enlarge
M
otivating others is surprisingly difficult. The
the purpose of the work in ways far beyond money
most basic solution suggests that all motivation
making," observes Margaret Wheatley, an author and
is intrinsic (i.e., found within the person you are
organizational expert.
trying to motivate). But knowing what motivates
each employee on a personal level is impossible and
People want to work to help improve the world.
impractical.
Companies that can link their mission to core values
and a purpose greater than the bottom line will create
The more obvious forms of motivation include
more engaged workers, boosting profitability in the
cheerleading, bribing and threatening. You could try
long run.
to push people to achieve more through aggressive
communications that instill a bit of fear, but even
Company leadership determines how much employees
intimidation goes only so far.
can grow, develop and find satisfaction in their work.
Motivating others to high performance is more complex
Successful leaders focus not only on financial results,
than it appears. To inspire your people to excel, you
but also think about the experiences and opportunities
must help them find meaning in their work and feel
that provide employees with intrinsic rewards as they
productive on the job.
contribute to building something substantial.
You also have to encourage the personal qualities that
8 Career Anchors: What Matters Most
enhance employees' performance, such as optimism,
M
personal responsibility and dedication to values their
ore than 30 years ago, Edgar Schein, a Sloan Fellows
own and the company's.
Professor of Management at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, proposed that people are
primarily motivated by one of eight career anchors:
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