Do you know what motivates the people on your team? If you need things from them, you should. And if you manage them, you absolutely must. Yet many of us work with people every day without knowing what truly drives them. We assume. We guess. And we often guess wrong.
We assume people want more money. Or that they want a promotion. But everyone is different. Some people work weekends because they thrive on recognition. Others want to do just enough to meet expectations so they can spend more time with their families. Some want to be CEO. Some want less stress. Some just want to feel appreciated.
You can’t manage, lead, mentor, support, or develop people effectively if you don’t know what they care about. The best way to find out what motivates someone is simply to ask.
Think about all the managers, teachers, and leaders you’ve had in your life. How many of them actually asked you, “What motivates you?” It’s such a rare question that many people don’t even have an answer ready. That’s okay. Give them time to think. Offer examples. Share what motivates you. The conversation alone tells them you care.