Tap Employee Potential With 5 Core Principles

“No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team.”

– Reid Hoffman, Co-founder of LinkedIn

 

Employees can make or break your business. But it is up to you to ensure that they are given the best opportunity to reach their full potential. If you are having trouble with motivating your staff, here are a few key steps to empower your team.

 

There are 5 core principles that can help ensure you are giving your staff the best opportunities in the workplace.

1. Permission

Consider and clearly define the types of decisions your team can make and problems they can resolve.

 

2. Protection

Welcome an environment where calculated risk is encouraged and mistakes are considered and treated as learning experiences. This increases innovation.

 

3. Purpose

Knowing and communicating your company’s mission is critical to motivating your team. It guides them through decisions, challenges and problem resolution.

 

“A team aligned behind a vision will move mountains. Sell them on your road map and don’t compromise — care about the details, the fit and finish.”

– Kevin Rose, Founder of Digg and Partner at Google

4. Proficiency

Make sure your team members “own” their careers and encourage them to identify areas of interest and needs for training.

“Connect the dots between individual roles and the goals of the organisation. When people see that connection, they get a lot of energy out of work. They feel the importance, dignity and meaning in their job.” 

— Ken Blanchard and Scott Blanchard, Co-author of The One Minute Manager and EVP of Client Solutions for The Ken Blanchard Companies (respectively)

5. Pat on the back

Recognition and praise are key to making people want to do more. Do not leave praise for just team meetings or annual events. Pass along positive email and customer feedback. Reward good work with good words.