Motivation: A Modern Vox Populi

Whether you’re a new manager or have years of experience, we can always find creative new ways to motivate our teams. Sometimes all you need is a fresh set of eyes to see  where action can be taken to give us a boost.

We have talked to MarketMakers Team Managers give us some advice how to take action, maintain interest and drive results.

We are using MarketMakers most successful attribute, our voices, to tell you how we encourage our teams and keep up a great morale.

 

Firstly, we asked our managers: 

How do you maintain motivation across your team?

 

Sam said: “Remind your team of their own goals and what they’re striving for. Distraction take its toll easily when you’re having a tough week. Constantly remind them of their aim and this will aid self-motivation.”

 

Evie Said: “Give constant recognition, host small incentives, and create a fun atmosphere whilst also giving mutual respect. It also helps to set and share your goals together.”

 

Steve said: “The way in which I change the mind-set of my team is advising them to complete and hit target on their challenging campaigns in the early part of the week when they have the most energy. There isn’t anything more motivating than scoring on a tough campaign. It breeds a determine mind-set and that makes the person hungry to achieve more and close more deals.”

 

Rebecca said: “Find the individuals ‘why’ and what they’re fighting for. What is going to push them through the day? Find the team’s ‘North Star’, what we aiming for together.”

 

Ash said: “Have clear goals, clear direction, clear expectations and clear rewards for achieving what we set out to do.”

 

Lauren said: “It is important to be the light house.”

 

Secondly, we asked managers:

How do you deal with one person being negative in your team when it begins to affect everyone else?

 

Rebecca said: “Give them time to express themselves by taking them away for a 121 chat. Let them tell you what’s bringing them down and offer them support. People want to be listened to and supported to achieve. Give them the opportunity to drive themselves forward again.”

 

Steve said: “You have to take it off the sales floor, behaviour will breed behaviour. A key part of management is not allowing that to develop into something more than it should be. You have to understand why they’re feeling that way and advise them. We’re all human, negativity can often be a cry for help/support.”

Steve makes reference to Maslow’s Needs Hierarchy and tells us he uses this as a tool to help them change the negative into a positive.

 

 

 

Ben said: “Jump on the problem straight away before it begins to affect the team.”

 

Ash said: “Understand why and try to counteract that. Refer to previous successes and ask how they achieved that.”

 

Evie said: “Keep up PMA (Positive Mental Attitude).”

 

 

 

Lauren said: “Understand why, create an action plan on how to resolve it. Attitude is such a key role in delivering a world class customer experience.”

 

Next, we asked:

How do you think having a good team morale and motivation affects your stats?

 

 

Ash said: “A happy team is number one priority. With all the knowledge and skills in the world, without the right attitude you are never going to achieve the results you need.”

 

Rebecca said: “It absolutely makes a difference if you’ve got good team morale and high levels of motivations. People come in with a different attitude, they stay longer and they work harder. Morale speaks for everything. In sales it is all about how tenacious you are. How driven you are and how hard you’re willing to fight. If you have people who fight just as hard as you, with good energy and motivation to achieve, it rubs off on other people and in turn increases productivity and results.”

 

Sam said: “People want to get on board when they see good morale.”

 

Evie said: “People bounce off of each other, expectations are raised individually, and your team will give themselves a positive talk. It’s like a domino effect, if one person strives, others want to do the same.”

 

Lauren said: “People can tell if you’re calling them, slumped in a chair because you have to but, a motivated team want to speak to people.”

 

Finally, we asked our managers:

What advice would you give to new Team Managers ?

 

 

Steve said: “Never stop developing yourself and your team. The learning really kicks in when you become a manager. Ultimately, your team is a reflection of you. It’s important that you put as much, if not more time, into your teams development as you do your own. Don’t be afraid to ask for support. I am learning every day how to get the best for my team and myself so we can get the best results for our clients. If you stop you’ll go stagnant.”

‘Keep your tools sharp and your head in the game. ’

 

Rebecca said: “It’s the biggest step you’ll ever take in you carer but it’s also the best step you’ll ever take in your career. The opportunity to watch people learn, grow and develop, there isn’t anything like it. My advice would be to think before you speak and act. Be mindful that you have a lot of power to help people grow and develop. Enjoy it!”

 

Sam said: “Treat everyone as an individual instead of a collective. Think outside the box and try different things.”

 

Evie said: “Share best practice, speak to other managers and soak up all of their experience. If you want to grow you have to learn everything you can in order to better yourself every day. Being consistent with your team and empowering them.”

‘Communication is key’

 

Ash said: “There is no such thing as a stupid question, it’s only stupid if you don’t know the answer and don’t bother to ask. Always ask for the help you need and don’t stop until you get it.”

 

Lauren said: “Your team is the best part of this job. You get the biggest reward from them.”

 

 

 

It has been great taking a look into the world of motivation from a manager’s perspective. We hope that you’ll be able to take away and use a MarketMakers tip in order to maintain morale and push your team to the next step.

Want to know more about becoming part of the MarketMakers leadership team? Get in touch with our recruitment team via recruitment@marketmakers.co.uk.

By Sade Kendall

Tags: career, Motivation, Team Manager, Voice Blog