Best Ways to Lead and Inspire Your Team
As an employer, you’re also a team leader in charge of creating a positive work environment and strengthening relationships among team members. However, this role comes with great responsibility because you’re the one who should motivate and inspire your team in order to help them achieve best results. Team-building is an important management task that shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially because it can reduce employee turnover rate, help each team member grow and ensure the best possible job performance. Instead of just mechanically handing out gifts and praise, take some time to get to know your team and use some of the following techniques to motivate and inspire them.
Get to know your team
The truth is that you won’t be able to inspire and motivate your team if you don’t know them. If you don’t have a personal relationship with your employees, they are unlikely to see you as their leader and mentor. In addition, your team-building role will be much easier if you know their interests or aspirations. You can organise team trips, after work parties or sessions at work when they can share their ideas and opinions. Getting to know your employees will certainly be rewarding, so every little idea that can help you achieve that is worthwhile.
Provide opportunities for personal and professional growth
There’s nothing inspiring about an environment where employees are expected to stay put and keep doing the same things over and over again. If you want to be an inspiring and successful leader, you need to encourage your team to grow and develop both in a personal and business sense. You aren’t only their boss, but also their guide and mentor, so make sure to act that way. Provide them with professional guidance, help them overcome obstacles or rise to a challenge. Not only will they feel better about themselves, but it will also benefit the entire team and business in general. Provide them with plenty of opportunities to progress by organising inspiring lectures, courses and additional training.
Create a pleasurable and stimulating environment
Your employees should enjoy working in their work environment, and not feel cramped or stressed out. It’s important that you pay attention to your office design because it can greatly affect your team’s state of mind. Of course, you don’t have to spend a fortune on redecorating your office space, but make some small yet significant changes. For example, decorate your office with mindful posters and artwork that will motivate and inspire your employees. Another great way to improve your work environment is introducing plants as stylish décor accessories. Since they act as natural air purifiers, plants will fill your office with fresh air boosting your team’s mood and efficiency. If your team feels happy and satisfied in their work environment, they’ll be more focused and efficient when it comes to performing their jobs.
Don’t underpay your team
Underpaying your team will send the message that you don’t value their efforts and contributions, which will result in you losing your team members one by one. However, this doesn’t mean that you should overpay them either. If you overpay them, you’ll have to cut their salaries when you come across financial difficulties, which will result in dissatisfaction and problems. To make sure that you pay them exactly what they’re worth, you should conduct research and gain insight into the revenue each employee brings to the company.
Show your appreciation
Every once in a while, you should show your team that you appreciate and care about them, and the best way to do this is to give them gifts. Giving out presents will make your team feel special and appreciated, which will consequently motivate them to achieve better results. It doesn’t matter how big or expensive presents you give out are – it’s the thought that counts. In addition, the more personal the gifts are, the more meaningful they’ll be. However, sometimes it’s impossible to know the interests of each team member, so it’s better that you give them useful presents. For example, if you give a visa debit gift card or a voucher to an employee, they’ll be able to buy something they need or want. Some other great ideas include inspirational books, stylish notebooks, or even travel vouchers for the most diligent ones.
If you spend some time with your employees, motivating and inspiring them will be much easier. However, don’t forget to show your appreciation, create a positive work environment and pay them appropriate salaries.
