At work, there are the projects, tasks and activities that your staff members are required to do – and then there are the extra things they do simply because they want to do them. Giving this “discretionary effort” is the result of highly engaged employees who care deeply about the work they do.
What goes into building a team that truly cares and wants to go the extra mile? According to Adyna Akins, a performance improvement manager at Insperity, it comes down to taking care of your people. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we outline Akins’ guidance on six ways you can fuel your employees to give their best.
1. Make sure the right people are in the right places. When people like what they’re doing, they’re probably good at it, and when they’re good at it, they probably like it. It’s a circle that feeds itself, Akins says. When your employees feel appreciated for doing work they’re good at and being successful at it, they’re more willing to invest discretionary effort.
2. Connect the value to the vision. As a leader, it’s up to you to show your team members how their work makes a difference. People are more likely to go above and beyond when they feel valued for their contributions. Akins recommends setting clear expectations for what your employees should achieve and give them a say in how they deliver on those expectations. Then, at the end of the week, ask if they accomplished what they set out to achieve.
3. Celebrate victories. To inspire discretionary effort, remember to reward positive outcomes. Commend your team members with promo or even simply tell them, “Nice work.” Recognizing those efforts gets more of the same, Akins says.
4. Provide the necessary resources. Do your reps have what they need to be successful? Be their advocate for finding the best tools and support, Akins says. Beyond this, you can also prioritize time for working together as a team. This can help create bonds that inspire people to do more than what’s expected.
5. Create growth opportunities. Always look for ways for your team members to stretch their skills. Find out what matters to them and create or adjust their assignments accordingly.
6. Model what you want. If you want your team to contribute at higher levels, do the same. This means bringing your best to work – your best attitude, listening skills and effort. When you do this, your employees will feel more inclined to do so as well.
When you take care of your team, everything tends to get done – and often better than you expected. Your staff members are much more likely to contribute at a higher level when they know their work is appreciated. Remember the pointers above, like placing people in the right roles and recognizing their efforts, to bring out more discretionary effort among your employees.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Adyna Akins is a performance improvement manager at Insperity.
