It’s officially a new year! Whether you went big with an NYE celebration or turned in at 9:30, it’s not about what you do in the single moment at midnight – it’s about what you do with every moment of the next year.
If we’re honest, though, not everyone is feeling the new year spirit. In fact, you might not feel it yourself! As a leader, a boss, and an entrepreneur, though, motivating your team to take advantage of 2023 can make all the difference in the world. It’s not that the year itself automatically makes everything special, but your mindset plays a huge factor in success.
Here’s how to get yourself – and your team – on board with a reignited vision for the future.
6 Ways to Spur Your Team Towards Success in 2023
#1 – Ditch the empty industry jargon.
One of the worst trends of the modern workplace is empty, nonsensical vision-casting and vapid industry jargon. You all know it when you hear it. It’s full of buzzwords and positivity without actually meaning anything. In a role of leadership, your efforts to inspire must be backed with substance.
If you want a good start this year, ditch the strange art of industry talk and trade it in for candid encouragement. Your team should know without a doubt what you’re about, what the company is about, and what critical role they play.
#2 – Encourage growth, not shame, when there’s a failure.
Nothing kills creativity, innovation, and motivation quite like a sense of shame. Instead of scolding your team for failures, oversights, and missteps, focus on a growth mindset. It might have been a stupid mistake. It might make you angry that it happened at all. But berating the culprit doesn’t turn back time – it only hinders effective change and growth. Shame causes people to retreat and play it safe. A growth mindset causes people to come back stronger.
#3 – Set and enforce clear expectations.
It’s tough to feel motivated when you don’t know what you’re doing or why you’re doing it. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to set clear expectations – not only for individual tasks but for the overall goals and vision of each project…even the company as a whole! Know what you want to see. Go in with tangible, measurable goals in mind. Then help your team meet those goals.
#4 – Recognize good work.
A boss that never doles out scoldings or shame doesn’t protect the workplace from a sense of anxiety, dissatisfaction, or discontent. You need to do more than view failure constructively. The recognition of good work and the expressed appreciation for your team inspires confidence and a sense of fulfillment. Good work is always worth recognizing. Make a concerted effort to do so throughout the year. You’d be surprised at how negatively months without positive feedback can hinder the effectiveness of a team or individual.
#5 – Stop competing with your team.
Surprise, your team is on your side! We know this in theory, but some leaders don’t put it into practice. You don’t have to be the guy with the best insights or ideas. Things don’t need to go the way you dictate. Listen to your team and their input – allow them to have ownership over what they do. Leaders who steamroll innovation for the sake of control only discourage their team from making meaningful contributions.
#6 – Check in throughout the year.
Plenty of us have great intentions to check in, evaluate, and team-build throughout the year. But for many of us, these intentions fall by the wayside when our schedules get crammed with deadlines. It’s easy to shift into a sort of autopilot where you do the work without reflecting or evaluating results.
As difficult as it can be, it’s worth doing. Don’t save feedback for a year-end review. Make a regular point to talk about what’s going on, what needs improvement, and what’s going well. These check-ins allow you to see how your team is feeling.
Are they burned out? Dealing with mental health issues or stress? Do they feel like their work matters? What can you do to address concerns or better equip your colleagues?
If you want new years’ motivation to last, you must meet your team where they are with all of the support, encouragement, and guidance you can offer.