At some point or another, every leader has probably had the challenge of getting people to work hard. This can be very challenging because each person has their own agenda. As leaders, the goal is to get everyone to work hard as a team. The following four steps can be used to get everyone to work hard and be on the same page before a project begins.
Keep Calm And Work Hard
Build Trust
It is very difficult to get anyone to do anything for you if they don’t trust you. Before you can get anyone to work hard, you must build trust with them. One of the quickest ways to build trust is to help them know that you sincerely care about them and their success. You must show and have a genuine desire to help them succeed. If you don’t have this desire on your own, know that if they succeed, it will make you look good as the leader. Work hard to overcome your pride and selfish desires to develop trust with those you lead. If you don’t overcome pride, it will lead to problems accomplishing the established goals.
Clarify the Big Picture
Once you have built trust, the next step is to help them understand the big picture. Let the people know what the big picture is and how they fit in. By seeing the big picture, they will feel more important in their individual roles. In addition to helping people work hard for you, creating a big picture understanding also helps you as a leader to clarify the your role in the project. It establishes accountability amongst all team members.
Establish the Vision
The big picture is “what” needs to be done overall, whereas, the vision is “why” it will be done in line with future goals. Once the big picture has been clarified, help those you lead understand how their responsibilities are important to the vision and future of the company. Your explanation will help them catch the vision.
Identify Project Success Benefits
Once everyone understands their role, identify the long-term benefits of the project. Whether it is a pay raise, bonus, promotion opportunity, greater job security, job satisfaction, or some other benefit, the team members will have a clear picture of what’s in it for them. They will want to work hard when they see benefits at the end of the successful project.
Getting people to work hard can be a major challenge when not everyone is on the same page. These steps will help you to get everyone to work hard and be on the same page. These steps will help minimize the challenges and overcome obstacles, so that everyone will work hard and get the job done.
How have these steps helped you to get people to work hard? Which step has been most effective for you? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Great blog Brandon. I think trusting one another is vital to accomplishing anything. Without trust, there is no sense of belonging to a team. Trust is at the core of all great leaders and their people. Thanks Brandon.
Bert
http://about.me/bertsomsin
Thanks Bert! I agree with you that trust is of the utmost importance. I appreciate your comment. Thanks, Brandon.
Brandon,
Great article. But I believe there are other proven ways to get people to work hard.
1. Company transparency.
2. Mutual trust and respect.
3. Creation of ownership.
Over the last 20 years of my career I have had the fortune to learn emotional maturity, values and behaviors, the leadership rule and many other leadership and business teachings by some of the greatest teachers on this planet. Stephen Covey ( before his death) Jim Collins, Rick Quinn, Susan Scott, Eliyahu Goldratt and my personal favorite of all time Tony Diekemper.
These people have had a profound impact on my life both personal and private.
Being a level 5 leader ( Good To Great) will always acquire the people who will always give you the best that they have.
Someday I will attain level 5 leadership.
Thanks for the great article.
Welcome Aaron,
I like the points that you brought up. Your three points are very good. To get someone to work hard, you need to work with them in a variety of ways. There is no “one size fits all” or a specific “easy” list of things to do. The leader can employ the points listed in your list as well as in the post to get people to work hard. As you follow those points, you are moving in the right direction with your leadership and towards creating an effective team.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post and comment on it.