The one quality all motivators have…

Posted: February 14, 2023 | Categories: Leadership, Management, Team Building

If I could narrow down the three buzz words that haunt owners and managers today regarding team performance, it would be engagement, productivity, and retention.  Let’s talk about productivity:  If you ask me what is most important when motivating your team, I believe I have the answer.  Warning:  The answer will bore you.  It is BUILDING TRUST.  The highest performing teams I encounter know the importance of high team trust, and they are aware of how to build it.  They also know that doing so is done by a habit, not a gimmick.  So how do you get a team to be more motivated and productive?  I’ll bet you have known the answer since childhood.  We show genuine interest in our people and find out what is important to them.  Allow me to give you my favorite example from my childhood:  Her name was Mrs. Maxey.

Growing up, my parents socialized often with a loyal group of friends.  They had parties, played cards, and even went on cruises together.  Of all of their friends, I had a favorite.  It was Mrs. Maxey.  She was friendly, positive, had a radiant smile, and always took the time to talk to me before chatting with the grownups.  She was interested in me and wanted to know all about me.  She also would remember information from previous conversations.  She made me feel important.

As time passed and Mrs. Maxey grew older, she needed help with chores like pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, and shoveling snow.  I loved helping her and would have eagerly done the work for free.  I appreciated so much how she made me feel important.  She had my trust.

How about you?  How do you build trust with people?  Do you remember their birthday?  Do you know when birthday is?  How regularly do you talk to them?  If we make a sincere, conscious effort to show an interest in others, we will be amazed at the responses.  Yes, it even applies to the younger generation!