Category Archives: Motivation

Employee Engagement, Employee Morale, Leadership, Management, Motivation

Things That Motivate Employees More Than Money-Guest Post by Fretty Francis

July 20, 2017 Liz Stincelli

A bigger motivation than money is hard to believe, but it does exist. The kick that we get from being applauded is priceless. Only a person with true leadership qualities can create an engaged workforce. Offering rewards and opportunities before it’s too late is really important. Nurturing your employees with the skills that they require to attain future challenges is where the success of your company lies. If your business is facing failures consistently, then it is partially your fault. In such situations the bosses certainly lack the required skills and should consider working on their own skill development before blaming the employees. After all, a true leader is the one who is humble enough to admit their mistakes. Makes sense, right?

Yelling at your staffs can never improve the situation; rather it will worsen your bond with them. Once they build a negative perception about you, it will probably never change, and this will affect their performance.

Here are 12 effective ways to bridge the gap between bosses and the employees:

Honest and generous with praise works in your favor- Be specific while you praise your employee and let them know you notice their efforts in details. You should always try your best to match the praise to their efforts. This may sound like a very simple concept, but embracing their potential should be your goal, rather than just expecting positive results. Try giving regular praise to your employees based on their valuable traits and soon you will see them praising each other, which is a good sign for a happy work culture.
Get rid of managers for a change- Project managers maybe too good at handling their responsibilities but sometimes it is good consider their team handling responsibilities without a leader. Empowering your staff can give you surprisingly exceptional results. Without a leader they become more responsible and will work together on an equal level.
Share your ideas with them- Nobody likes to be told what to do and what not to do, and therefore it is always advisable to share your ideas and make them theirs. This is quite simple because all you need to do is ask them their views about your ideas. This will boost their confidence to approach you with new ideas without hesitation.
Give equal priority to each employee- A project becomes a success when each member of the team does their bit irrespective of the hindrances. Everyone should get equal credit for their contribution and feel proud for the team as a whole. This will make them realize that everyone is important and will never let success get to their head.
A surprise lunch from the boss- Simply walk up to them and invites them for lunch and surprises them. Let them know you appreciate their work and they did impress you with their dedication. If you just hired new employees then, a surprise lunch is a great icebreaker for new team members. This is an awesome way to build trust and to establish a great rapport.
Criticism will kill the enthusiasm- Never judge your employees based on something that is least important. Criticism is never fun on the receiving end, especially when you do it in front of others. An underperformer needs motivation, not a mulish boss who sabotages their confidence at every level. The more you support the less they focus on clock watching and become more productive.
Share rewards first and then expect- Rewards can be in any form apart from increment and this is the time you make use of your creativity. Gift them free movie tickets, free gym membership, dinner reservations, salon or spa coupons, trophies and plaques. There are so many things that you can give them and let them know that you appreciate their efforts. This will motivate them to work harder on their future projects even before you asking them to do so.
Comfort matters- Does comfort matters to you? Same is the case with your employees and bunch of little things can make a big difference. A fully stocked fridge, a comfortable couch (for a short nap occasionally) or allowing them to work from home if possible are all necessary perks. Comfort at workplace is the cornerstone of productivity.
Flexible working hours- Everyone has a different “productive time of the day” and expecting employees to be actively working for the entire day is unreasonable. This can only waste time, so allow them to set their working hours (with valid reason). This will definitely elevate their performance and they won’t let you down.
Throw a killer company party- Show interest in celebrations, just like you are enthusiastic about starting a new project. Celebrate when your employees perform well, organize birthday parties or raise a toast if you got a big client as your big breakthrough. Never underestimate the power of celebrations, as it brings positivity.
Performer of the month- Although this is a very classic method of recognition, but it is still one of the favorites among the employees. Choose some star performers as nominees in different departments (categories). Pick all the outstanding employees and reward them for their magic behind the scenes.

Final thoughts: – Great things come to those who wait, and keeping patience with your employees can be a game changer. Be a generous boss by giving your attention to employees and you can learn from them. Review and analyze your employee performance through Performance Management System and give rewards to employees who have given sweat and blood to your business.

Author Bio:

Fretty Francis is currently a Software Analyst at SoftwareSuggest. She is passionate about HR, performance management, asset management, CRM among other things. In her free time you can find her either reading about tech stuff or listening to music.

Engage Now, Inspiration, Leadership, Motivation

Motivation vs. Inspiration

April 21, 2017 Liz Stincelli 4 Comments

“Excellence endures and sustains. It goes beyond motivation into the realms of inspiration.” —Azim Premji

Webster’s definition of motivation is the process of motivating through force, stimulus, or influence. Inspiration is defined as the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions. The words motivate and inspire are often used interchangeably but, they have very different meanings. So, do you want to motivate your employees or so you want to inspire them?

The external

I think of motivation as an external force. Picture the carrot or the whip in getting the behavior you want. When you motivate employees, you get them to perform purely to receive a reward or to avoid punishment.

The internal

I think of inspiration as an internal force. Picture excitement, pride, and being part of something bigger that influences behavior. When you inspire your employees they perform because they are internally driven to make a meaningful contribution.

Why it Matters

Motivation can provide a great incentive for achieving short-term results. But, for the long-haul, do you want employees going through the motions purely to receive a reward or to avoid punishment? Or, would you like employees who are loyal to you, dedicated to doing a good job because they are proud of their contributions, and inspired to be part of something great? The fact is, both motivation and inspiration play an important role in leadership. Motivate employees to achieve short-term goals; inspire employees to reach far beyond your vision.

So, what are you going to do?

Liz Stincelli is passionate about recognizing and inspiring the leader in each of us. She is the Founder of Stincelli Advisors where she focuses on helping organizations change attitudes, change communication dynamics, improve collaboration and problem-solving, engage employees, and strengthen organizational culture. Liz holds a Doctor of Management degree with an emphasis on organizational leadership.

Learn more about Liz by visiting her website, stincelliadvisors.com and connect with her on Twitter @infinitestin, Google+, and LinkedIn. You can contact her by email at stincelliadvisors@gmail.com.

Culture, Leadership, Motivation, Opportunity, Organizational Culture, Relationships

Developing Talent in Your Organization

April 9, 2015 Liz Stincelli

“One of my greatest talents is recognizing talent in others and giving them the forum to shine.” —Tory Burch

By Elizabeth Stincelli, DM

Developing Talent

When you dedicate time and resources to developing talent within your organization you make ordinary employees into extraordinary employees. Everyone benefits when employees develop their talents; productivity increases, quality improves, and morale strengthens. As a leader, you have to remember that the most outspoken voices are not always the wisest; you must give everyone the opportunity to be heard and contribute. Provide them with shared values and principles but don’t overwhelm them with extensive rules and then give them the opportunity to show what they can do. Develop their talents and then give them control over their own tasks and decision-making. So, where do you start?

Relationships

Angela Ahrendts said, “Everyone talks about building a relationship with your customer. I think you build one with your employees first.” Create a healthy, productive organizational culture and start building relationship based on trust and respect. You need to be your employees coach and loudest cheerleader. Hire great, hard-working individuals and then bring out the very best in them by developing relationships and investing your time and resources. Don’t keep secrets; demonstrate that you have trust and confidence in your employees by sharing information and communicating openly. Stop treating your employees like children; put your trust in them and you will build loyal relationships and a strong sense of community.

Motivation

Dwight D. Eisenhower told us, “Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.” As a leader, you must recognize that each employee is unique, possessing different talents and motivated in different ways. Your employees possess knowledge, skills, and experience that they want to share with the organization. No one wants to be treated like a machine; show that you value their capabilities by helping them to further develop their talents and motivating them based on their individual preferences. When you invest in your employees on an individual level you will be amazed at how motivated your workforce will become. Lift and encourage them; provide support through both your words and actions.

Opportunity

Bob Feller believed, “Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again. That’s the way life is, with a new game every day, and that’s the way baseball is.” Let your employees know that there are opportunities available all around them. Let them know that you see their extraordinary potential and then give them the opportunity to reach that potential. Give employees the skills and resourced necessary and then let them tackle challenges on their own while providing a safe place to for them to fail. Give them the opportunity to become the best version of themselves, to learn from one another, to design how their work gets done, and to make decisions within guidelines.

Extraordinary Results

Wade Boggs explained, “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.” Your employees want to be extraordinary. When you invest in them and provide opportunity you will be amazed how your culture, morale, and outcomes improve. Your investment stands as proof that you value them on an individual basis, that you appreciate their contribution to the organization, and that you recognize and are excited about their potential. As your employees grow, so will your success. Develop the talent in your organization, invest your time and resources, provide opportunity, cheer your employees on, and you will achieve extraordinary results.

Elizabeth Stincelli is passionate about recognizing and inspiring the leader in each of us. She is the CEO of Stincelli Advisors where she focuses on helping organizations engage employees and improve organizational culture. Elizabeth holds a Doctor of Management degree with an emphasis on organizational leadership.

Learn more about Elizabeth by visiting her website, stincelliadvisors.com and connect with her on Twitter @infinitestin, Google+, and LinkedIn. You can contact her by email at stincelliadvisors@gmail.com.

Create Meaning, Culture, Inspiration, Leadership, Meaning, Motivation, Vision

Why is a Compelling Vision so Important?

March 26, 2015 Liz Stincelli

“Don’t underestimate the power of your vision to change the world. Whether that world is your office, your community, an industry, or a global movement, you need to have a core belief that what you contribute can fundamentally change the paradigm or way of thinking about problems.” —Leroy Hood

By Elizabeth Stincelli, DM

Vision

Your vision provides you with a description of the future that fulfills a deep hope within you. It clarifies where you want to go on an individual, team, and organizational level. Defining your vision helps you determine what skills, knowledge, tools, technologies, and abilities you will need to get from here to there. Having a compelling vision is not negotiable; it impacts the motivation, energy, and inspiration of yourself, your team, and your organization. As a leader, why should you promote a compelling vision in your organization and how can you do it?

Motivation

Les Brown believes, “Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way.” When employees’ lack a clear vision of where they are going, they often feel unmotivated and uncommitted; they feel their time and talent are going to waste. This is the perfect recipe for everyone to start working on their own agenda, and that is the perfect storm for your organization to fail to achieve the vision you have set. In order to keep everyone motivated, you must create a compelling, shared vision of the future where everyone wins.

Energy

Oprah Winfrey feels that, “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” When your employees have a clear and compelling vision, it unleashes the energy within them that will move them towards that vision. Help them to see what winning will look like and then link your vision to that picture. Tap into shared attitude, core values, and beliefs for the energy to keep moving forward and doing whatever it take to achieve your vision.

Inspiration

Ella Fitzgerald said, “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” When the vision for your organization fits into the values, ideas, and activities that inspire your employees they will be more committed, more productive, and more loyal. Inspire your employees by making your vision come alive for them; show them how important the role they play is in the big picture. Help them to envision how the future looks for them and inspire them with a deep sense of purpose. Reassure them that they are part of something meaningful, something greater than themselves.

Develop a Compelling Vision

If you don’t know where you are going, how will know what you need to get there? A compelling vision is important on an individual level and becomes even more essential as it spreads to teams, communities, and organizations. It is important for you, as a leader, to develop a vision so compelling that your employees can see, and even feel the opportunity that the future holds. Use your vision to motivate, energize, and inspire employees to work with you toward building that future.

Leadership, Motivation

Keeping Motivated

November 20, 2014 Liz Stincelli

“When you look at people who are successful, you will find that they aren’t the people who are motivated, but have consistency in their motivation.” —Arsene Wenger

By Elizabeth Stincelli, DM

The Problem

As leaders, we set the tone for motivation. The problem is, sometimes we struggle with keeping ourselves motivated. We can’t effectively motivate those we work with if we lack motivation ourselves. So, how do we stay motivated?

Attention

We must give motivation our conscious attention. Jim Rohn said, “Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention.” You should focus on increasing your strengths. Giving your attention to the areas you are strong in is more motivating than focusing on overcoming weaknesses. Look for opportunities that leverage your talents. Again, it’s easier to stay motivated at things you are good at. Set small measurable goals to help yourself keep your eye on the ball and then set deadlines. Purposefully create a practice that builds focusing on your goals into your daily routine. Determine what is important to you and why it is important. Then ask yourself if you want it bad enough to put in the hard work necessary to achieve it. Finally, identify where you are, where you want to go, and then focus your attention of what you need to do to get there.

Benefits

Napoleon Hill explained, “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” Being clear about the benefits is a big factor in motivation. Keeping the benefits in mind will help you to remain motivated when times get tough. Great successes are often preceded by obstacles and failure. Use these failures as learning opportunities, remind yourself of the benefits you will experience once you succeed, and keep moving forward.

Visualization

Harvey Mackay said, “I believe that visualization is one of the most powerful means of achieving personal goals.” It helps keep you motivated when you can literally see your goals. Many contribute much of their ability to achieve success to using a visualization board. You can remind yourself what all the hard work is for by creating a board that illustrates not just what you are working towards, but also why. It also helps to create a mantra that reinforces a positive mindset. A visualization board and mantra can be very effective because your brain responds to the way things make you feel, not the things or actions themselves. Get a clear vision of where you are going and then see yourself on the journey; that’s where your motivation will come from.

Consistency

Jim Ryun explained, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Consistent motivation is about thinking long-term. It requires conscious commitment. Your real motivation will come from having a clear vision what is important and why, and then developing the self- discipline that allows you to focus your attention on a consistent basis. It helps if you commit to your goals publically so you have a sense of accountability. Consistent motivation means you never let yourself become complacent and content with the how things are currently. Make the commitment to continuously motivate yourself to reach your goals and fulfill your dreams.

Keeping Motivated

Les Brown said, “Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way.” When you find your motivation is lacking, remember that what you did yesterday will not be sufficient tomorrow. You must fan the flames of motivation on a daily basis. Build attention to your goals into your daily schedule. Clearly identify the benefits you will experience. Use visualization and mantras to preserve the positive feelings of you purpose. And be consistent. The better you become, the easier it gets to keep motivated. It’s your life, you are in control. Once you learn to keep yourself motivated, then and only then, can you start motivating others.

Focus, Mission, Motivation, Why

What is Your Personal Mission?

September 11, 2014 Liz Stincelli

“Outstanding people have one thing in common: An absolute sense of mission.” —Zig Ziglar

By Elizabeth Stincelli, DM

You Are on a Mission

Maya Angelou told us about her mission, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Whether you have given conscious thought to it or not, you are on a mission. Others come to know your mission by watching your behaviors. Your mission serves as your guiding light. It helps people understand who you are, what is important to you, and what you want to accomplish. It guides your values, vision, and goals. Make sure you are following your mission by design and not default. Give some thought to the following factors.

Why

Simon Sinek explained, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” Your “why” is as important to you as it is to others. Your “why” is the foundation with which your decisions and actions are based. Make sure you have given it some real thought. What is important to you? Do you understand why you’re doing what you’re doing? Are your words and actions in line with your “why”? Your “why” provides the underpinning for your mission.

Motivation

Lou Holtz said, “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” What is your motivation? Our dreams come true when we are motivated enough to take action. What do you want bad enough to put in the hard work necessary to achieve or acquire? Why is it so important to you? Knowing your personal mission will provide you with motivation and strength to keep you going when times get tough.

Focus

Tony Robbins tells us, “One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.” Identify where you are focusing in every area of your life. Where is your family focus? Your educational focus? Your community focus? Your career focus? Identify where you are, where you want to go, and where your focus needs to be to get there. Your mission should guide your focus.

Legacy

Jan Brewer stated, “My mother always told me that as you go through life, no matter what you do, or how you do it, you leave a little footprint, and that’s your legacy.” Intentional or not, you are leaving a little footprint. What would you like people to associate with your name? When you have a clear picture of the legacy you would like to leave you are more engaged in creating it. When you live your mission, you create your legacy.

What is Your Personal Mission?

Viktor E. Frankl understood that each of us has a personal mission when he said, “Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone’s task is unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.” You are important. Your personal mission is important. Your mission should emphasize who you are not just what you want to accomplish.

Jan Bruce explained, “Purpose is the thing that will keep you afloat no matter how the tide turns.” You can’t build something meaningful without a sense purpose and a mission to guide you. Your mission serves as a moral compass to help you make the right decisions about what to do and why to do it. Remember, you are on a mission. Make it a good one.

Empowerment, Leadership, Motivation, Organizational Culture

Do Employees Want to Be Motivated or Do They Want to Be Happy?

June 4, 2014 Liz Stincelli

Do Employees Want to Be Motivated or Do They Want to Be Happy?

“Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.” —Dwight D. Eisenhower

By Elizabeth Stincelli, DM

Motivation

Motivation provides us with our reasons for behaving in a particular way. Each of us is motivated by something different. If you can identify what incentives will motivate individual employees, you can use incentives, almost like a bribe, to get the behaviors you want.

How do we motivate?

If you want to successfully motivate employees you must first determine what excites them, what gives them purpose, and what they role want to play in the organization. Establish clear performance metrics with specific goals that can be measured. Be clear about the benefits and provide support. Communicate clearly, consistently, and often so employees know where the stand in relation to the goals they are pursuing. Provide positive feedback and compelling incentives. Make sure you are rewarding the right behaviors. Offer rewards for attitude as well as skill. Incentives can range from profit sharing, which gives employees a vested interest in the success of the organization to small rewards such as movie or dinner gift certificates. You can take an employee to lunch. Make sure you are celebrating organizational successes. Continually offer challenges to be met.

What does it look like?

Motivated employees work towards meeting organizational goals based on the desire to receive the incentives offered for performance. An organization where incentives are used to motivate employees operates with a defined system for determining what will motivate each employee, setting clear and measurable goals, and tracking progress. Employees successfully reach organizational goals based the rewards they receive for exhibiting desired behaviors.

A Culture of Happy Employees

Happy employees are more productive. Happy employees are also loyal employees. An organization with a culture that focuses on providing an employee friendly work environment will have employees who are inspired to work hard based on a love of their job.

How do we achieve it?

Employees want to be empowered, to be allowed to take ownership of their work, and to tackle challenges on their own. You must provide clear expectations and parameters for performance and then allow employees to have freedom and control over their work tasks. Allow for a degree of flexibility in when and how the work gets done. Employees want jobs that utilize their talents. They want opportunities to continue to develop their skills as they work along a planned career path. Provide a support system that helps with career planning and offers continuous training. An employee friendly environment offers perks such as a great benefit package, paid leave, flexible schedules, telecommuting, and educational opportunities. This type of organization encourages employees to have fun at work with parties, fun contests, and group charity work. These types of activities build camaraderie throughout the organization. And don’t forget to offer praise for a job well done.

What does it look like?

Money will not buy employee engagement or loyalty. When people are in the right roles where they are passionate and committed giving the organization their best efforts they are more likely to be happy and enjoy their work. Expectations are clear. Communication is open. Leaders are visible, supportive, and appreciative. There is a culture of continuous employee development. Employees find great meaning and satisfaction in their work. And, everyone participates in the celebration of organizational success.

What Do Employees Want?

So, the question is, do employees want to be motivated based on incentives or would they prefer an environment where they’re happy to work? To achieve results that are mutually beneficial to the organization and employees, a combination of incentives and positive work environment seems to be most effective. Employees like to have clearly defined goals and it’s always nice to know that there will be a reward designed specifically for you based on your motivation as an individual for achieving those goals. Employees want to feel valued and receive credit for their contributions. They want to work for an organization that is willing to help them continue to develop along a career path that supports their strengths and passions. And, they want control and flexibility in performing their work tasks.

Take-Away

Motivating employees is a valuable tool for achieving organizational goals but, don’t just throw money at them, give employees the opportunity to build a career in a job they enjoy. Organizations with a high degree of employee engagement consistently out-perform those with little or no engagement. Employees are more committed to the success of the organization when they are offered work that is interesting, they are communicated with, they feel engaged, they have control over their work, and their contributions are appreciated. Create a culture that offers incentives for reaching goals and provides support for the personal aspirations of employees.

Empowerment, Engagement, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Motivation, Organizational Culture, Teamwork, Trust

Stifling Employee Engagement

May 28, 2014 Liz Stincelli 2 Comments

Stifling Employee Engagement

“When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.” — Simon Sinek

By Elizabeth Stincelli, DM

Employee Engagement

Employees want to be challenged, to have control over their work tasks, and have the opportunity to continue increasing their knowledge and skill set. When employees feel fully engaged they become emotionally committed to working hard in the best interest of the organization.

Are You Stifling Employee Engagement?

Do the employees throughout your organization know that they share in the success of the organization? If you want your employees to do more than just show up to work, you must consciously develop a culture that engages them in their work and shows appreciation for the contributions they make to the success of the organization. Watch out for these management behaviors that stifle employee engagement.

Unsupportive culture

Corporate culture affects performance and contributes to the social control that influences the way employees behave and make decisions. Culture bonds individuals together on a social level to make them feel included in the experience of the organization. Engagement must become part of the culture. When employees enjoy their work and the environment they work in they are more loyal, innovative, provide better customer service, and strive to continually improve the organization.

Out-dated view of work

In the early 20th century, Fredrick Taylor pioneered scientific management. This form of management focused on production and breaking projects into tasks. Employees could then be trained to specialize in a specific task. Taylor emphasized efficiency, control, and predictability. This view of leadership treated employees like instruments that leaders could manipulate. The focus of leadership was on the needs of the organization and not those of employees.

Times have changed; as employees become more educated and skilled, their desire to participate in the leadership and decision-making process increases. High performing employees expect the opportunity to participate and be independent. Your employees are the core of your product or service. They should find their work to be fulfilling and meaningful. If you want your employees to be engaged in their work, you should reevaluate and make adjustments to how you view work.

Lack of investment

Employee engagement requires the investment of resources to continually develop employee knowledge and skills. Talented employees want to continuously improve themselves. As a leader, you must focus on their development and offer them meaningful opportunities to contribute to the organization.

Lack of commitment

A culturethat supports employee engagement requires full commitment from management since that’s where the responsibility for employee engagement falls.Spend time helping employees succeed. Make sure you, as a leader, and your employees are committed to the right things.

Lack of inspiration

When employees do not feel inspired by those who lead them they will not be fully engaged in the organization. Employees are motivated by shared trust, values, and purpose. By developing and maintaining trusting relationships you can inspire individuals to collaborate, share knowledge, and contribute to the development of new organizational knowledge. Let employees know, through your words and actions, why they should work for you. Be a source of inspiration.

Take-Away

Employee engagement is dependent on commitment from management, a supportive culture, training, and empowerment. Provide employees with the knowledge and skills that will allow them to deliver a value that exceeds expectations. Remember that employees who are emotionally committed to the organization want to contribute. Give them the tools and opportunities to make the meaningful contributions that benefit them on and individual level and the organization as a whole.

Inspiration, Motivation