A quality leadership skill to have is understanding that people are not motivated by the same things.
What drives you to work hard, push through challenges or aim higher will not necessarily drive your team. Everyone comes to work with different values, pressures and priorities.
Through running team challenges, I have learnt that understanding what actually matters to each staff member changes everything. It shapes how you manage people, how you give feedback and how you support growth.
Some people are motivated by money. Clear targets, deadlines and incentives energise them. The chase can be just as motivating as the reward.
Some are internal thinkers. They need time to process information, explore options and talk things through properly. They may ask the same question more than once. That is not resistance. It is how they make sense of things.
Others are doers. Head down, bums up, get it done. They do not need constant check-ins. They need clarity, trust and the freedom.
It is also important to know how to nurture people once you understand what drives them.
Do you know your team’s workplace love languages?
Words of affirmation; for people who love receiving a compliment, forward that glowing client email. Call out great work publicly.
Quality time; the quieter achievers may not reach out. They need regular, scheduled check-ins where they have the floor.
Gifts; who like a tangible award or experience. A celebratory lunch, being shouted a glass of wine after a big win. A gift is always appreciated.
Acts of service; putting a little extra effort to make something easier for someone goes a long way. “I know this task stresses you out, so I’ve started it for you.”
Physical touch; for our soft affectionate team members, ‘looking a little flat today, do you need a cuddle?’