In Super Bowl 42, the New York Giants were motivated to deny the New England Patriots their perfect season. On paper the Patriots were the better team. But on the field, the Giants rose to the occasion to deliver an astounding 17 - 14 victory. To win the Super Bowl, the pinnacle of sports, players enthusiastically give it their all. We’d love to harness that passion in the office, but the daily work routine doesn’t always compare to playing in the Super Bowl.
Our team has experienced and observed many motivational styles and we’ve uncovered some insights. Before we get to the A+ material, let’s take a look at a motivational approach that we don’t endorse.
No surprise, our major offendor is Bobby Knight, who goes one step too far with an angry tirade full of explitives (this YouTube clip is rated R and for mature audiences only). While a tirade may get attention and yield short-run results, we don’t believe that this is a sustainable approach to motivate a team. After a while, the yelling and anger will be tuned out.
Motivating others can be complex. Everyone responds differently so you’ll need to really understand your audience and customize your approach. Do you lead with encouragement, empowerment, or human connection? Or is it strictly about the money? Studies have shown that managers overestimate the importance of money and that in fact, money alone isn’t the primary motivator.
Employees want to be part of a real team that is striving to achieve exciting goals. As you rally around clear goals, give each team member a meaningful role.
To read more about the art of motivation, visit Sparxoo.com
