RULE ONE
GET THEM EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED
"Work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed."
Vaclav Havel, ex-president of the Czech Republic.
As a manager you manage people, People who are paid to do a job. But if it is 'just a job' to them, you'll never get their best. If they come t work looking to clock in and clock off and do as little as they can get away with in between, then you're doomed to failure. On the other hand, if they come to work looking to enjoy themselves, looking to be stretched, challenged, inspired and to get involved, then you are in with a big chance of getting the very best out of them. As a manager, it is you who motivates them, leads them, inspire them, challenge them, get them emotionally involved.
You like a challenge yourself, don't you? the good news is that getting a team emotionally involved is easy. All you have to do is make them care about what they are doing. And that's easy too. Yo have to get them to see the relevance of what they are doing, how it makes an impact on peoples lives, how they provide for the needs of other human beings, how they can reach out and touch people by what they do at work. Get them convinced - because it is true of course - that what they do makes a difference, that it contributes to society in some way rather than just lines the owner's or shareholders' pockets, or ensures that the chief executive gets a big fat pay cheque.
And yes i know it's easier to show how they contribute if you manage nurses rather than an advertising sales team, but if you think about it, then you can find value in any role and instil pride in those who do whatever job it is. For example, those who sell advertising space are helping other companies, some of which may be very small, reach their markets. They are alerting potential customers to things they may have wanted for a long time and may really need.
Get them to care because that's an easy thing to do. Look, this is a given. Everyone deep down wants to be valued, to be worth something and be useful. The cynics say this is nonsense, but it is true. All you have to do is reach down far enough and you will find care, feeling, concern,responsibility and involvement. Drag all that stuff up and they'll follow you forever and not even realize why.
Be sure to absolutely convince yourself first before actually trying this out on your team. Do you believe what you do makes a positive difference? If you're sure, reach down, deep down and find a way of caring because only then will you be able to impact positively into your team.
