How to motivate a team, not just individuals
How to motivate a team, not just individuals
5 minutes
You may already have a sense of what motivates each person on your team. If not, the article What drives us at work shares a simple way to uncover that. Once you understand what matters to each person, the next step is helping them feel part of something bigger.
A collection of motivated individuals is not the same as a motivated team. Team energy grows when people feel they are moving forward together and doing meaningful work that matters.
Gallup’s workplace research finds that belonging and purpose are key drivers of motivation and performance.
Without shared direction, individuals can end up working hard but in different ways. Progress feels uneven. Motivation becomes fragile.
McKinsey notes that teams are more effective when people feel connected to shared goals and confident in their ability to contribute.
Leaders build team motivation by helping their team understand:
- What we are trying to achieve together
- How we succeed together
- How each role matters in getting there
Team motivation doesn’t hinge on big gestures. It grows through everyday habits that help people feel united in purpose and proud of what they achieve together.
Here are some practical ways to build shared energy:
- Link individual tasks back to the team goal
- Show how roles connect so the work feels shared
- Celebrate progress often so effort feels worthwhile
- Rotate who gets the spotlight each week
- Use “we” language to reinforce unity and contribution
- Highlight the “why” behind priorities to keep meaning real
Example:
In your next team standup, open by asking how yesterday’s work moved your shared goal forward.
End the week with a quick team reflection:
- What did we move forward together this week
- Who helped us make progress
- What will we build on next week
Use the Motivating teams in practice framework to help put these habits into action.
