How to Answer: How do you successfully motivate your team?
9. How do you successfully motivate your team?
How to Answer
Motivated employees are productive employees. Talk to the interviewer about ensuring that your team is feeling motivated and being as productive as possible. You can successfully motivate a team by providing them with autonomy, showing interest in their ideas, and encouraging collaboration in the workplace.
Answer Example
"My formula for a motivated team is to get to know them, uncover what they are passionate about, and find out how they like to be recognized. If I can provide my team with proper recognition, tasks that they enjoy and feel they are good at - then they will perform as motivated employees."
Admin
"Motivating my team to do well is one of my greatest joys. I put incentives in place that recognize a job well done. At the same time, I do not punish failures. Everybody makes mistakes, so I focus on the lesson rather than the mistake. I encourage the individual to try again and use the situation as an opportunity to strengthen a related skill set."
Manager
"Every new team member completes a DISC assessment. I want to understand who they are and how they want to be motivated, praised, and coached. This assessment shows where they fall regarding four traits: dominance, influence, steadiness, compliance. The results help me understand them better as humans and how I can motivate them to be productive while ensuring their happiness on my team."
Marketing
"First, I motivate my team by being an example. I show excitement for new projects, find the best in all situations, and bring an infectiously good mood to the workplace. The right mood will set off a great creative environment."
Retail
"Sales contests resulting in a financial bonus or recognition are proven incentives for my team. I also delegate referred tasks to top performers, such as merchandising the mannequins rather than cleaning out the dressing rooms. If a team member wins a team challenge, they can choose which activity they get to do the rest of the day. These motivational approaches generate friendly competition and boost productivity."
Sales
"My sales team members are motivated by financial rewards and bonuses. For this reason, I often run sales contests with prizes, including gift cards, electronics, and cash bonuses. These challenges get my competitive team of salespeople excited and often give us the extra push needed to exceed our monthly targets. As a result, our sales team often lands in the top 3 of our company's leaderboard out of 25 teams."
Teacher
"I motivate my students by empowering them and giving them autonomy when it's appropriate. I empower them by encouraging participation but never forcing it. I frequently as for their input and ideas and praise every idea that they present. This approach makes my classroom feel like a community, and it fosters an open and healthy learning environment."
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
However, I try to give clear objectives; I empower and expose them to leadership. I listen, and I make sure they know I have their back. I give them positive feedback and acknowledge effort as much as acknowledge success."
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