Motivating the Unmotivated

Don’t Give Up Too Soon —

When Mary started with the company, she was enthusiastic, energetic, and consistently the top sales person on the team. She got along well her co-workers and was known for her superior customer service skills. 

Over time something changed. Mary began starting work late, leaving early, and taking long lunches. The brief interactions with her co-workers usually turned into complaint sessions. She ignored phone calls and didn’t respond to emails. Customers were frustrated. Mary spent more time on her cell phone than doing the work she was getting paid for.

John, Mary’s manager, was at his wits end. He wanted Mary to get back to the level of work he knew she was capable of. He went from one extreme to the other. First, he tried money. Then, he tried disciplinary action. Both resulted in short-term improvements but they didn’t last. 

Does this situation sound familiar? If so, don’t give up too soon. There are 6 other ways to motivate employees that have longer lasting results than money or disciplinary action. The challenge is determining what motivates employees. 

Asking an employee outright what motivates them usually doesn’t work. Most people haven’t given it much thought. Instead, act like an investigator and look for the clues so you can identify the motivational factors of each individual.

Here Are 6 Common Motivational Factors And The Clues To Look For

Clue #1: BELONGING

People who are motivated by a sense of belonging get energized by being part of a group. 

You might notice them coming up with creative ideas for celebrations or suggesting get-togethers. "When’s the last time we went out for Happy Hour?", they might say. Listen for what they do outside of work. Do they spend a lot of their free time with friends and family? Do they participate in group events like book clubs or sports teams? 

Keep this employee motivated by asking them for ideas, designating them as the celebration coordinator, and including them in projects.

Clue #2: INFLUENCE

A formal leadership title isn’t needed to have influence. Many people are happy with an informal leadership role where they can influence others. 

You can identify them by their willingness to speak for the group. They are the go-to person when others need answers or reassurance. They are the person the team looks to for direction and advice.

Keep this employee motivated by asking them for their opinion on matters that affect the group. "How do you think the team is going to react to this change?" is a simple, yet very effective way to let this person know that their position within the group is clear.

Clue #3: APPRECIATION

A simple sincere Thank You is what motivates employees who have this motivational factor. They just want acknowledgement for their efforts.

Employees who are motivated by appreciation talk a lot about their accomplishments. They might come to their one-on-one with a list of what they’ve done. Managers who don’t understand what clues to look for may mistakenly assume the person is full of themselves or is just bragging. That usually isn’t the case. These employees are looking for some appreciation. 

Keep these employees motivated by giving sincere, specific, and timely, appreciation for their efforts. Catch them in the act of doing something right and comment on it immediately.