In your company who's "responsible" for motivating people? Is it HR? The CEO/president? Your boss? What about you? Yes, you read that correctly, I said you. I believe the answer is not one but all. Confused? I don't think it's just the CEOs job or your boss or just your job to motivate the employees, I think it's everyone's job. I don't think it should be anyone's priority, just something everyone should help out with.
Let me ask you a few questions.
- Do you have a lunch room where people congregate at the lunch hour? Do you mostly laugh, chuckle, tell jokes, personal stories? Or just sit there in absolute abismal silence staring at each other or worse yet the table?
- Do people ask you about your weekend and actually stick around to hear the answer? Do they say hi and flee for the stairs at the first "uhm" or do they ask questions about you, your significant other, new/used car, the trailer, new computer, new toy/gadget/program?
- Do people say "so long" at the end of the day or do they just silently slip out the door never to be seen again until tomorrow when they'll ditch you at the coffee machine?
- Does the CEO/Pres walk around saying "Happy Tuesday!" and honestly mean it? Does he/she ask you how things are going and is GUINENILY interested? Or does that person walk into the office once a month spouting orders only to flee faster than a Senators winning streak?
- Does your manager or coworkers understand YOUR quirks/ticks/nuances, respect them, and even work with them? Or do they try to change you at every opportunity?
- Do people leave at 5:00 on the second it hits five o'clock? Or do they stick around to see the build finish successfully? Or do they answer your question that "will only take 2m" that started 15m minutes ago?
Stefan Lindegaard has a blog about the power of motivation and I think it's worth a read. It's not too long but very cool. The jist of it is get to know the people you work with. Honestly try your best to get to know them. You don't have to be their best friends (but it does help). Motivating someone is HUGELY empowering!
I've been witness to a pres who did the "management by walking around (MBWA)." The first few times I knew immediately what was going on and just observed. After a few times of watching how he reacted to other people telling him stories (work related and yes, some personal) and then seeing how motivated they were after he left, I was AMAZED at how much he empowered his people! It was SO COOL! I couldn't believe my eyes! I hadn't see that from someone so high up in the org chart before and MAN did it have an impact. The enthusiasm for HIS people was totally engrossing and contagious. Ya, you can bet the next time he came around I got in on the action and benefited from the energy flow.
You know what's REALLY cool about this MBWA story? It's not the empowering, it's not the coolness, as good as those are, it's now when the prez walks around, OTHER people beat him to the punch and say "Happy Thursday!" and they can't wait for their few moments with him. That's powerful!
PS If you're some higher-up management bloke and think this stuff is full of crap, then you're completely missing the point and I would bet your people think you're a clown! Strong words eh? Shape up and try to see things from your people's standpoint, ie, get off your high horse and get into the deep down and dirty trenches you probably created.
Stefan Lindegaard: Have We Forgotten The Power Of Motivation?
BusinessWeek: The No-Cost Way to Motivate
Scott Hanselman: 5:01 Developers, Family, and Excitement about the Craft