Recently I had the opportunity to work on a small team, and I found myself lacking engagement. The leader was complaining that we needed to get to work. We were accused of having no sense of urgency. It was true.
Upon reflection, I realized my lack of urgency was due to the fact that I felt no responsibility towards achieving our goals. I was just working, following instructions, but didn’t feel like my effort mattered.
If your team needs a boost of urgency, here are a few things to consider:
1. Empowerment. Have you enabled the team to achieve the results in a manner that lets them fully utilize their talents? Are you willing to stop managing the effort, and focus on leadership? They are different. Recognize where you are, and adjust your style to match the situation.
2. Vision. Does your team know, understand, and share your vision of the result? How do you know? How often are you trying to paint the picture for them? What part do they play in the final result? Why is it important?
3. Recognition. People need recognition for their effort. The level of recognition varies by individual. Some people need public recognition. Others just need a quiet word of thanks. How well do you know the needs for the people on your team? Are you effectively keeping them engaged through your recognition efforts?
Several years ago, I led a team that thrived. We achieved our goals nearly every week. One of the highlights was a shared breakfast on Friday mornings. If we hit our targets for the week, we had breakfast delivered. It was a simple way to say thank you, and to motivate the team. The weekly attainment of goals along with our shared breakfast became a habit we all enjoyed.
It was simple. It worked. You don’t need to over complicate recognition. I find that authentic, heartfelt, appreciation works best.