Leadership Communication and Motivation
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Being a leader requires an understanding of what motivates people. While leaders can’t really motivate someone else, they can create an environment where people can motivate themselves. To create that type of environment leaders have to understand what will motivate the members of their team. The question is: how do you do that? One way is to have great communication.
One of the best things a leader can do to create an environment where people can motivate themselves is to understand each member of the team. Every person comes to work for more than just a paycheck. While the paycheck is important, it is just a part of what most people get out of their work. People want to feel as if they are contributing to something that is worthwhile and that they are accomplishing something. If you as a leader don’t know what each team member is looking to get out of being a part of the team, you cannot effectively lead them.
Have a conversation with each of your team members and find out what they like about the work they do. Find out how and why they find it rewarding. Having these kinds of conversations will not only let the team member know that you are interested in them, but will allow you to see how you can best help them achieve what they want to achieve out of their work. Keep in mind that what motivates one person will not necessarily motivate another person. Trying to figure and sort this out for everyone can seem like a big hassle, but it will pay off in the long run.
Just as the individual communication is vital, so is the group communication. Consider that communication is the glue that keeps the team together. The team needs to be informed of how well or not so well the team is doing. It is very difficult to be motivated about something and you don’t know the current status of that thing.
Communicate often and use various channels. Some information is best communicated one-on-one. Other communication needs to be delivered in a group setting such as a staff meeting or town hall meeting format. Yet other communication needs to be written. Each of these communication channels requires different skills. Make sure you are continually developing your leadership communication skills.
To make your communication even more effective, try to incorporate what you know about each member of the team in your communication. Even your group communications should sound as if you are talking to each member of the team individually.
Leadership communication is a big key to creating the right environment for people to be productive and engaged in the work they do. Keep in mind these tips and watch your team get excited.
