Many leaders are noticing the erosion of productivity and morale that has started creeping in after prolonged lockdowns, social unrest, and decentralization of their workforces. In my previous blog, “Building Enthusiasm and Engagement in Remote Teams,” I wrote about five strategies to build enthusiasm and engagement in remote teams, and in this blog, we will focus more on the attitudes and behaviors that leaders need to demonstrate in order to motivate their team whether they are remote or face-to-face.
Leaders must transform themselves into a beacon of motivation to spark energy and excitement back into their teams if it has waned. This can be done by taking a proactive approach with a motivational leadership.
Here are 8 “Be Attitudes” that will help you revitalize your team:
- Be Positive. No one likes a negative black hole of energy! As a leader, you set the tone for the rest of the team. Make sure you are excited and enthusiastic when communicating with the team. Avoid negativism by focusing on growth opportunities when discussing challenges and changes with the team. Give more positives than negatives when discussing individual employee performance. Focus on the good and you will drive positive behavior.
- Be a Good Listener. Develop the habit of listening to what your team members have to say. Let them tell you what ideas they have when trying to overcome challenges. This is a hard skill for leaders to learn. Most leaders want to jump in and solve a problem as soon as they think of a solution. Instead, learn to ask questions and listen as employees figure out the best solution. This will empower them and build their confidence.
- Be Courteous. The days when parents taught common courtesy seem to be a thing of the past. Be the example by not talking over employees when they are speaking, allowing employees to contribute their ideas without criticizing them, and saying “please” and “thank you.” Demonstrating the way you want your team to treat each other helps build respect and morale within the team.
- Be Transparent. When team members feel like they don’t know the expectations of the leader, or even worse they feel the leader is keeping secrets, it can create animosity in the team. Make sure you communicate clearly and communicate often. Everyone on the team should know your expectations for a job well done. This clarity helps people to feel secure and drives confident decision-making.
- Be Interactive. Whether you are leading a remote team or are in the office with your team, it can be easy to focus on the work instead of focusing on the people. Remember that the more visible you are to your team, and the more rapport you build with the team, the more vested they will be in giving you their discretionary effort. Take the time to pop in on virtual calls or walk the floor to make sure they know you care.
- Be a Resource. Employees can get frustrated and unmotivated when they feel they cannot accomplish a job or finish a project successfully because they don’t have the necessary tools or resources. As a leader, it is your job to make sure they have what they need to be productive. Give employees the training and authority they need and then create checkpoints to make sure they do not get stuck. Backing them up by clearing away obstacles and providing resources will win both the dedication and respect of your team.
- Be Fair. People want to know they are being treated fairly. Make sure you are treating them unbiasedly and not playing favorites. “Spread the love!” Make sure they all feel valued. Give high-performing team members recognition in private while those that do not get recognition as often may need it publicly in front of the team. Make sure they all know you are there for them.
- Be a Coach. As a motivational leader, you should understand your employees’ professional goals and why they are important to each of them personally. After clarifying the goals of the employee, you should coach them to create a plan and prioritize what goals and strategies are needed to help progress the employee closer to their goal. You should meet with each employee regularly to keep them on track with the commitments made to progress towards their goal during the past coaching session. People become motivated when they know you are helping them grow.
By approaching your team with the 8 “Be Attitudes” listed above you can become an inspiration to your team and awaken their inner motivation. This motivation will help increase their job satisfaction and productivity which in turn will create an unstoppable winning team.
Interested in learning more, join us for a complimentary 90-minute webinar, Creating a Culture of Enthusiasm in a Remote Team, on March 23, 2021, at 9:00 AM.