Imagine your team thriving—fired up and doing their best work. Now, imagine the same for your family. Sounds amazing, right?
Well, let me share a little secret with you. Everyone on your team or in your family is an individual, with their own unique motivators. Motivation—driving towards a goal—is not one-size-fits-all.
If you want to influence someone to do something, you need to understand and appeal to their specific motivator. There are 7 basic motivators, adapted from The Manager’s Desk Reference by Cynthia Berryman-Fink and Charles B. Fink.
Here’s the rundown:
1. Achievement: These folks thrive on the satisfaction of completing projects/tasks effectively. They love using their abilities to succeed and are naturally driven by challenging tasks.
2. Affiliation: These individuals value social interactions and find a gratifying sense of connection in the social environment.
3. Authority: They get a kick out of having an impact on others, often enjoying leadership and persuasion roles. Positions of power and influence are their playground.
4. Autonomy: Independence is their mantra. They prefer working on their own tasks and projects, taking full responsibility for the outcomes.
5. Esteem: Genuine acknowledgment and specific praise are what they crave. They prefer detailed recognition over vague compliments and don’t necessarily need public commendation.
6. Safety and Security: Stability is their comfort zone. They seek consistent income, health insurance, additional benefits, and a safe working environment.
7. Equity: Fairness is key for these individuals. They often compare their experiences to those of their colleagues or siblings and may feel disheartened if they perceive any discrepancies.
Do you want to know how to translate this knowledge into results, to motivate someone on your team? Email me with the word MOTIVATOR and I’ll send you some specific action steps you can take to influence performance and pave the way for success.