How Will Questions Motivate my Coworkers

What do you do when you’re running late to work?

Call in and let them know

Sneak in through the back entrance

Show up and act like you have no idea that you’re late

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If: Leadership is not about having coworkers do what you want, but having them want to do it.

Then: Motivation must be the heart of leadership.

Dr. Bob Nelson is one of the foremost experts on employee motivation and best-selling author of "1001 Ways to Reward Employees"— not surprising, coming from a longtime coworker of Dr. Ken Blanchard and doctoral student of management guru Peter Drucker. According to Dr. Nelson, these are the top six employee motivators:

1. Support & Involvement
2. Personal & Public Praise
3. Autonomy & Authority
4. Flexible Working Hours
5. Learning & Development
6. Manager Availability & Time

Amazingly, you can address five of these motivators just by asking questions!  

Support and Involvement: When an employee is asked a question like, "Where do you think the problem lies?" you engage their minds and involve them in the organization. By listening to their input and making use of their contributions, they then feel supported.

Personal & Public Praise. Asking employees "How do they like to be praised and thanked when they do a good job?" can help you take the guesswork out of recognition so you are more than likely to be on the mark.

Autonomy & Authority: Once you and your coworker have discussed the parameters of a problem and set a direction for the initiative, ask, "How will you go about accomplishing this task?" Make it clear that you will be available as a resource, but the problem is theirs to solve. Your coworker will undoubtedly experience some anxiety, but with your trust, their increased autonomy and authority will lead to greater motivation and achievement.

Learning & Development: If your coworkers are even remotely savvy with technology, they don't need to be spoon-fed directions. They know how to synthesize data into actionable knowledge. Short-cutting their discovery processing by telling them detailed instructions will often result in frustrated and disengaged workers. Ask questions, move out of the way, and watch them grow.

Manager Availability & Time: "Open door does not mean open mind," Dr. Nelson reminds us. To be a leader means more than being available, it means being prepared to learn. If you consider yourself the storehouse of all company knowledge and decision-making acumen, your coworkers won't feel inspired to make innovative decisions. Make yourself available to their ideas. Make it clear that you don't have all the answers. Ask questions that reveal a true desire to learn and be exposed to new ideas.  

If you want to motivate your coworkers, Just Ask. Question-based leadership will address five out of Dr. Nelson's top six employee motivators. And, chances are, if you use this approach, you'll also accomplish the sixth: Flexible Working Hours—because once you learn how much inspired employees can accomplish, you'll be willing to explore alternative work arrangements!