3 Leadership Tips to Motivate Staff...in 150 words

I have found that staff are most motivated by inclusion, trust and purposeful contribution.

Inclusion means recognizing the rich resources of knowledge and experience within your team, and intentionally drawing these out through an inclusive approach to decision making. The leader still decides, but an inclusive approach leads to better decisions, with staff who are more motivated to implement them.

Secondly, relationships of trust are essential. If a leader does not enjoy the trust of his/her staff, they may be compliant, but they will not feel safe and the motivation that sustains commitment over time will not be there.

Thirdly, staff are motivated by ‘purposeful contribution’, where they can see the direct link between what they are doing everyday and the wider mission and objectives of the team, the department, and the organization. Leaders need to highlight these links, and affirm the valuable contributions being made at every level.