With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, let’s delve into a different kind of love – your team’s love language. No, I’m not referring to the traditional love languages by Gary Chapman. Instead, I’m talking about what motivates and inspires your team. However, if you happen to know their Chapman love language, that’s great too.
While an annual raise is appreciated, what about the time in between? Recognizing and rewarding your team members based on their unique motivations can be a challenge, but the understanding gained is invaluable.
When you ask more of your team, ensure there’s a mechanism in place for acknowledgment and reward. Whether it’s an emergency incident or a planned major project, create levers that can be pulled to show appreciation.
As a peer, be vigilant. If you observe a team member going above and beyond, escalate it to your boss and recommend they be rewarded. A simple Slack message can be a powerful reminder to acknowledge the behavior that is above and beyond.
Here are some key motivators
- Motivated by Money: 🤑💰
- Utilize gift cards or spot bonuses are always a hit with teams. I don’t know anyone that’s ever been disappointed when I’ve presented them with money for a job well done.
- If possible, personalize it based on significant life events like buying a house, moving, or having a baby.
- Motivated by Time Off:
- During times of crisis or after a stressful project, I like to give people some time off to “recover.” I don’t charge their time off for this. I just have them take a few hours or a few days off depending on circumstances.
- Allow them to bank the time off for future. On rare occasions, I’ve allowed team members to add this type of time off to a major life event like a long international trip or just a few extra days on a long weekend. Make sure you understand the HR process to ensure you’re not violating policy.
- Motivated by Food: 🍔☕
- DoorDash, groceries, or a sweet treat can go a long way. Sending lunch or dinner can go a long way toward acknowledging extra hours.
- Cater to individual tastes – whether it’s coffee for early mornings or dinner during late-night deadlines.
- Utilize gift cards if you can’t personally send food.
- Motivated by Praise: 🤲
- Understand the preference for public or private acknowledgment.
- Tailor praise to individual preferences to avoid discomfort. Do they like public praise or will that make them uncomfortable. It’s important to know the difference.
- Motivated by Learning: 📖
- Invest in conferences or workshops, fostering a learning environment. Encourage team members to submit as speakers to enhance team building.
- Purchase individual courses or license for online learning. I have purchased courses on Udemy or Pluralsight and gifted them to team members when they wanted to learn skills.
- Motivated by a Happy Family:
- Acknowledge personal sacrifices by supporting their family. During times of high availability, it’s important to acknowledge it’s not only the individual that’s sacrificing.
- Sending dinner and warm cookies, for instance, can make a significant positive impact.
- Motivated by Travel: ✈️🌍
- For those who love travel, occasional work trips can be a great incentive. Obviously there are larger budget constraints here so make sure you have the budget before suggesting.
- Recognize opportunities for team members to experience new places while still fulfilling work responsibilities. Is the business attending a conference where someone on your team might be valuable? Suggest it.
Undoubtedly, there are numerous ways to express gratitude outside of formal performance cycles. Taking the time to truly know your peers and team members, if applicable, is crucial. Personally, I find my motivation in travel; it’s my work love language. Following closely is a quiet Slack message of praise. Discovering what motivates your team may take some time, so patience is key.
It’s worth noting that your team’s love language can evolve over time, influenced by various factors and life stages. For instance, someone might be more money-motivated when purchasing their first home, but as they settle, their focus may shift to a desire for continuous learning. Therefore, periodically reassessing your assumptions is essential.
Understanding these diverse motivations contributes to cultivating a positive and supportive work environment. This Valentine’s Day, take a moment to reflect on how you can express appreciation in the language that resonates most with your team.
Work Life Chaos 