Page 25 - How to Motivate Every Employee

Downplay creativity

Inspire creative and
innovative thinking

When you find an organization that survives and thrives over time,
it’s usually because managers like you have learned how to adapt to
their changing circumstances and sometimes even keep ahead of the
changes taking place around them. Managers who encourage cre-
ativity and innovative thinking among their people are natural-born
motivators.
Start by addressing and eliminating any fears employees may
have about creative thinking. Some people, for example, don’t think
they’re capable of being creative. Others tend to focus on areas of
practicality, analyzing and judging ideas as quickly as they arise. Let
your employees know that it’s time to lighten up and not to assume
that something won’t work because nobody’s tried it. Have your
employees suspend critical judgment when someone presents what
may seem to be an off-the-wall or different kind of idea than what’s
been proposed in the past. Have employees concentrate on how they
can make new ideas work and not what’s wrong with them.
Motivating managers pride themselves on providing a free and
open environment that inspires employees to offer whatever ideas
and suggestions may occur to them—no matter how “impractical”
they may seem at first. It’s in this type of environment where employ-
ees will feel motivated to stretch themselves and use their imagina-
tions to help the organization (and themselves) succeed. Here are
some ways to encourage creativity:

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