Motivating others in the workspace is based on rewards or benefits for a person seeking to complete a task. These rewards can be non-material or in the form of ‘praise’ that is inspirational with a greater impact.
Specific centric praise is more effective, especially executed in front of a team or coworkers. Keeping in mind the different needs of each employee, the leaders must try to understand and work with what motivates them. It is an exercise to be individual. I will say it is a ‘recognition’ we all miss in our daily routine. To praise someone in front of others gives valuable recognition. it is similar to an experience that cannot be purchased but earned.
I'd like to share a relatable experience that I had about over a decade when I was working in Yangon, for a large hotel with multiple assets. A team of around 30 assisted me. The team included credit, cost control, purchase, accounting, income audit, etc. with each section having over three team members. It was a crucial task for a diversified portfolio. One team member was motivated and engrossed. you may realise that an unmotivated team needs a lot of time to reach a higher productivity level.
My three members' credit team comprised a credit manager, a billing supervisor, and a debt collector. The job of the debt collector was to gather the details from the credit manager each day and then go out to different offices, agencies, and the client to collect cheques or cash. We did not have a digital payment collection system in those days, so each collection was based on a physical approach. I always found him early morning coming to collect details, going for collection, coming back and depositing to the general cashier, and finally making collection posting in the receivable ledger. This was his usual daily routine with a similar cycle. One could easily say that there was no excitement in the job. During the team gathering and dinners, he was usually quiet. Honest, hard-working, punctual, knowledgeable, and engaged in work are almost all traits he possessed that are needed to be part of a finance team.
One data decision was taken at the Excom meeting that all departments to find a star performer in their team. A star-shaped board was purchased and the picture of the best performer was to be pasted. This is to show over 600 employees, who the best performers were, for a period.
You are a STAR
I had taken this opportunity to paste his picture on the ‘star board'. It was a secret exercise the night before. The next day, employees found big starboard next to the cafeteria with pictures of performers. It amazed the debt collector of my department as well as the others. During the evening discussion that I used to have regularly with all team members, I explained that he is doing the more tough job among us. Asking, chasing, visiting, and collecting money is one of the most energy-consuming work and he is doing it with ease. This event had an incredible impact on him. His overall personality changed from quiet to approachable. As his interaction expended. He also began explaining to me routinely the challenge in the collection and how is he managing them.
Appreciation in public is the best motivator.
This particular event has been a learning for me. Receiving appreciation is a need of any personality and public appreciation can bring out the best in a person. Motivation is being defined differently by experts, that is Intrinsic and Extrinsic.
Intrinsic motivation is easier to manage and more related to self-satisfaction. Whereas, we relatively link extrinsic motivation to the benefits and rewards a person gets. Leaders’ task is to change extrinsic motivation into intrinsic motivation. Praise and appreciation are the best methods to do that.
One of the best ways for leaders is to listen to the team, even their pint-sized success. To be listened to, praised, and used to connect with work, improving productivity. An unmotivated team needs a lot of effort and time to reach a higher productivity level. My decades of experience in various countries and multiple nationalities, levels, and mindset personalities have taught me that if you listen to others attentively, they will support you completely.
An engaged team is the most productive team.
Being gracious to others' views has ominous significance.
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