The more engaged and invested the team—the better the outcome. Obvious, right? We all have seen how motivated individuals can achieve so much. Their energy is highly infectious and also likely causes inspired action in those around them.

Consider a memorable achievement where you had first-hand experience being part of something you felt good about. Something that got you so revved up and excited—you couldn’t wait to get started. 

If you have a team that is about to embark on a big project (or perhaps they’re already out the starting gate and you’re keen to keep the momentum going), in this article, we share proven techniques you can use to ensure they remain motivated, engaged, and productive.

No. 1

Set Clear Goals and Expectations 

Nothing stalls a project and drains motivation like a lack of clarity.

It’s a sneaky contributor to procrastination and lets any excitement escape faster than air from a deflating balloon. Make sure the who, what, when, where, why and how’s of a project—as well as anything in between—are crystal clear.

No. 2

Monitor Progress

Motivation 101: seeing progress is incredibly rewarding. 

Think of the metrics you want to use to measure and track progress. Make it visual, make it fun. If you feel the urge to gamify and create a little hoopla? Go for it!  You have our permission.

Choose a project management software that allows you to monitor progress. Ideally, you want something customizable so that it caters to any nuance related to your particular efforts.  

Monitor and celebrate progress so the team maintains that desire and drive to excel.

No. 3

Meet Regularly

Have a set time to get together with the team and hear firsthand how things are going.

This doesn’t have to be one of those time-waste meetings (you know the memes). Rather, it’s something that could be done over brunch or during happy hour. Email even. Whatever aligns best with company culture.

Go over the objectives, the concerns, what’s working, and what still needs a little fine-tuning. 

Regular check-ins are important. They keep everyone on the same page, and lets the team know how their duty relates to other roles—what that looks like from a big-picture perspective.

No. 4

Promote a positive team culture

A positive team culture makes people feel appreciated and valued, which is extremely motivating. Plus, it helps maintain morale.

Employ team-building exercises or other excursions. Steer clear of anything that makes you want to roll your eyes—there’s plenty of that out there—but if you use your best judgment and get input from the team, you’ll discover something fun that the team is excited to participate in. Something that lends itself well to overall company culture.

No. 5

Celebrate milestones

Make sure the team is aware of the project goals, and set milestones you can celebrate along the way.

Celebrations can be things like a dinner out with the team, or a half day at work. The important part here is to commemorate it; make it special.

No. 6

Create incentives

Incentives come in all shapes and sizes.

Perhaps it’s a little healthy competition between teams, or even between individuals on the same team. Choose the metrics you’d like to use to monitor progress, and establish rewards for those who meet them.

In addition, providing training and other opportunities for growth provides an excellent way of keeping team members engaged. This has the added benefit of expanding their knowledge as it relates to the job.

No. 7

Be open to suggestion

Cultivating a culture that values and encourages input from the team is an excellent way of keeping your team engaged and invested in their work.

Be open to feedback, and regularly ask questions. There’s a lot to be learned from the people involved in doing the actual work.

No. 8

Show appreciation 

One of the best ways of keeping people motivated and engaged is by letting them know how valued they are.

There are many ways of showing this, from a simple thank you to gift cards, bonuses, and even a celebratory dinner or outing. Each milestone should be celebrated, and the key players should be given a shout out for their efforts. 

No. 9

Lead by example

If you're excited about the project, your team will be, too.

This is a powerful way of keeping the team motivated as your enthusiasm paves the way to others valuing and contributing to a worthy cause.

Takeaways

Motivation and engagement are like the secret sauce to productivity. They are not to be forgotten about or otherwise undervalued. Be creative about coming up with fresh new ways to keep the team engaged, and reap the benefits that come with leading a group full of passionate and and driven individuals.