Tag: motivation
Redefining Ambition and Career Development
Many definitions of “leadership” exist; but the ones that always resonate for me involve an element of bringing people along, helping them grow and progress, and facilitating their development as people and their careers. And I have the feeling that similar definitions are deeply held by many leaders – especially given the frequency of one…
How Exceptional People Developers Beat Bad Systems
A manager who doesn’t appreciate the value of something or simply doesn’t want to do it will always find an excuse not to. And, when it comes to employee development, one doesn’t have to look far for a legitimate one! Organizations unwittingly create impediments to growing people—something that’s recognized as a competitive advantage and requirement…
Who Knows What Employees Really Want?
For decades, articles, authors and studies have tried to help managers come to terms with how to motivate employees and drive optimal performance by understanding what employees really want and need from work. The list is long (and alphabetized for ease). Achievement and accomplishment Appreciation Autonomy and self-direction Being part of a team Boss they…
Feedback: What are your Intentions?
Andy (a leader I met last week) was very disappointed. One of his employees had missed another deadline, making him and his whole team look bad with a high-profile client. Andy had learned that feedback was most valuable when shared in a timely manner, and he knew that he needed to start documenting performance. So…
Finding the “motive” in motivation
For decades, management science has concerned itself with researching and developing sophisticated systems for understanding and unleashing employee motivation. In organizations, we’ve experimented with countless combinations of possible solutions to arrive at that magical motivational mix. We’ve tried: Compensation, bonuses, and different takes on doling out the almighty dollar to inspire employees Recognition in a…
Meaning Matters
Earlier this year, Emily Esfahani Smith wrote an article in The Atlantic titled, “There’s More to Life Than Being Happy.” Now, I’m not ready to throw in the towel on my pursuit of happily ever after… but it’s hard not to take note of the frequent mention of ‘meaning’ in articles, books, and other works of thought…