Wondering ‘How to Motivate Employees’ Is a Management Fail
January 20, 2023 | Publication“How do I motivate employees?”
This question has been pondered by academics and managers since the dawn of the study of management. After advising thousands of successful and unsuccessful leaders for nearly 30 years and analyzing their performance, I have observed a pattern that stands out.
- Great leaders do not ask this question.
- Below-average managers confuse employee motivation with a failure of management systems to deliver desired results.
- Approaches that improve outcomes for colleagues and organizations are hiring systems, clear expectations, rewards/results alignment.