The key to successful project management is ensuring team members are working at their full potential, completing tasks in time, communicating effectively and staying motivated. As a project manager, it is your job to provide them the necessary resources, guidance, and support that they need to get the job done. But it’s not an easy task to keep people engaged and motivated throughout the duration of a project, particularly when you’re managing a remote team.
Motivation is one of the top priorities when it comes to task completion, productivity, and goal attainment. By motivating individual team members and providing them a supportive working environment, you will drive higher levels of success. Here are some tips on how you can motivate your team as a project manager.
Find What Motivates Each Team Member
Every individual is motivated differently, so it is important to learn the motivations of each individual team member in order to set the correct expectations and help them perform at their best. There are three primary types of motivation: intrinsic, extrinsic and complex. Intrinsic motivation is driven by personal interest and the desire to succeed, whereas extrinsic motivation is driven by external factors, such as money or praise. Complex motivation is a combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations.
Take the time to get to know each member of your team and to understand what drives and motivates them. You can either do this by having a one-on-one conversation, conducting a survey, or observing the individual members’ behaviour. Once you know what motivates them, you can create motivating tasks or set up rewards systems to keep them engaged and motivated.
Provide Clear Guidance and Set Goals
It is essential to set clear and attainable goals for each team member to ensure that they remain on track and performing to the best of their abilities. Start by setting a clear and understandable vision and response to motivate team members, then provide specific tasks and timelines to complete these tasks. By defining roles and responsibilities, you ensure that each team member knows and understands what they have to do and by when.
You should also be sure to communicate all tasks fully, so team members understand their roles and the expectations. Make sure to provide the necessary resources to complete tasks, such as access to tools, guidance, or feedback when needed.
Create an Open and Communicative Environment
Many projects are done remotely, but creating a communicative working environment is still essential. Strengthen relationships within the team by encouraging open, honest and solution-driven communication. Having a reliable, transparent channel can help with managing expectations and prompt team members to take ownership and accountability for their tasks.
You can also do team-building activities to help your team members get to know each other better and to build relationships. These activities help build trust and support between the team members, improving their communication and overall performance.
Provide Recognition and Rewards
When team members meet their goals and completing tasks, reward them with recognition and rewards. Even small gestures can go a long way in showing your appreciation, such as sending a thank you note, recognizing their hard work publicly, or setting up bonus systems. This will not only make them feel appreciated and motivated, but will also help to foster a positive working environment.
You can also offer non-monetary rewards, such as extra time off, flexible work hours, or personalized gifts. Non-monetary rewards provide your team members with recognition, while giving them something that they can enjoy.
Focus On The Big Picture
When projects are in their early stages, it is easy to get caught up in the details and start to neglect the big picture. Make sure that team members understand the long-term vision and importance of the project and keep them focused on the goal. This will help team members stay motivated and committed to the project and to continue to work towards the ultimate goal.
Overcome Difficulties Together
No project is without its share of struggles and difficulties. It is important to recognize and address these issues so that the team can find solutions and move past them. Having team members work together to overcome difficulties will help to unify them and to create a sense of support and motivation.
Motivating your team is essential for any project to succeed. As a project manager, it is your job to provide them with the necessary resources, guidance, and support. Start by finding out what motivates each team member and use that knowledge to set attainable goals. Create an open and communicative environment, provide recognition and rewards, and keep your team focused on the big picture. By overcoming difficulties together, you can keep team members motivated throughout the duration of the project.
