Leadership Tip

How to motivate the disgruntled

No one likes to manage unhappy employees. They can be tough to motivate and resistant to change. But giving up isn't the solution either. Motivating disgruntled individuals requires empathy, communication, and a tailored approach to their concerns. Here are three counterintuitive ways to bring your most disillusioned back into the fold:

  1. Try harder to inspire. Double down on your efforts. Keep the conversation positive. Set expectations high so they'll become more invested.
     
  2. Develop them. Don't leave the underachievers out when distributing stretch assignments. Career development should not focus only on high potentials.
     
  3. Take them to lunch. Managers spend more time with people they like, but you may make your unhappy employees feel excluded. Make an effort to spread your attention around.

The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please contact us.


Looking for a speaker for your next event?
William Montgomery, our Founder and CEO, is available as a keynote speaker and event host. His experience as a speaker encompasses a wide number of audiences on a diverse array of subjects. He is also a volunteer for Speakers for Schools and Inspiring the Future.

Subscribe

Free weekly email on things you didn't know last week with links to articles on leadership excellence. To view previous editions click here.


Unlock your potential

Whether face to face, or over the telephone, we can develop your leadership skills, support you in making important decisions, and help you reach your potential.

Read More

Leadership Articles

10 ways to build your team

Everyone would like to be part of a dream team - a group of people, each skilled in their own discipline, pulling together to achieve more than they ever could alone. Yet while most organisations talk about teamwork, they still tend to reward individual... read more

10 weekend habits of purposeful leaders

The most impactful leaders know that success doesn’t come from working around the clock - it comes from working with intention. And that includes how we spend our weekends. While weekdays often revolve around performance, the weekend is a chance to reset... read more

10 actions for effective communication

High-quality communication is an essential element in business and organisational performance. Effective communication relies on engaging with people, having a commitment to building strong and productive relationships and realising that we communicate... read more

Leadership Tips

How to identify your core values

Those who know me know that values - particularly integrity - matter to me. Not as slogans, but as decision-making tools. When leadership gets difficult, and there’s no clear rulebook, your values are what guide your judgment and protect your... read more

How to achieve better performance

Leaders are slowly relearning and old truth: employee wellbeing is not a “nice to have” - it is a performance driver. Teams that feel supported, trusted and respected are more engaged, more resilient and ultimately more productive. The lesson for leaders... read more

How to keep those resolutions

January is when intentions are declared. Leadership is what happens after the declarations fade. Leadership isn’t about heroic starts, it’s about boring consistency. January rewards enthusiasm. February rewards discipline. If you want resolutions -... read more