How do you use feedback and recognition to motivate your team members?

Feedback and constructive criticism starts from kindness. When it comes to a team, keep supporting the strengths of each individual until they find their purpose.

Learning how members of your team interact and enjoy various recognition matters. Get to know your people and appreciate them daily, quietly correct, and loudly praise. Everyone wants to do well and also wants to know how they are performing. Timely responses are needed as well, a praise for something done well last year isn’t as good as a week or day after but never is not okay. Own your tardiness and improve from there.

When I lead a project, I start by asking lots of questions of my teammates, who are typically subject matter experts in their various project roles, to start to hone in on specific project-centric goals to be agreed amongst the team. (Not necessary my goals, just yet.) It's the best way to get great early advice, put them in charge and to establish their accountability to reach those goals. I like to do this in a group setting and in person, as much as possible. It helps builds rapport early and improves team interaction, especially when you cannot always have everyone together in person.

The first step in using feedback is to motivate your team to provide clear & specific feedback. This means giving feedback that is focused on the task, rather than the person. Example, instead of saying "bad job," you could say "this part of the project needs improvement." It's also important to provide feedback in a timely manner, so that team members can make adjustments and improve quickly. When giving feedback, it's important to frame it in a positive way. Instead of focusing on what was wrong, emphasize what can be done to improve in the future. This helps team members feel supported & encourages them to improve their performance. Be specific about the changes that need to be made, so team members can take action to address the issue.

When providing feedback to motivate team members it is important to instill ownership in team members. Everyone wants to be apart of something. As they take ownership this creates a feeling that they have a stake in the total success of the organization this will inspire them in the absence of leadership.

Recognition is another powerful tool that can be used to motivate team members. When team members feel that their contributions are valued and recognized, they are more likely to be motivated to continue performing at a high level. Recognition can take many forms, including verbal praise, public acknowledgment, or a more formal award or bonus. To effectively use recognition to motivate your team members, it's important to be sincere and specific in your praise. Be specific about what the team member did well and how it contributed to the team's success. This helps team members understand what they are doing right and encourages them to continue doing it.

In providing & receiving feedback & recognition, it's important to create a positive team culture. A leader should create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing feedback & ideas. Where everyone is committed to the team's success. When team members feel like they’re part of a supportive & collaborative team, they will be more likely to be motivated & engaged. In conclusion, feedback and recognition are powerful tools used to motivate. To use them effectively, it's important to be clear & specific, frame it positively & provide recognition that is sincere & specific. Also help your team achieve their full potential. With these tools you can motivate a high-performing team that is committed to achieving its goals.

Not all team members want recognition. You must understand every individual team member is different and you as a leader must see what inspires them. Individuals are diverse and as so, they have a diverse way of being motivated. The real action is not motivation but inspiration.