As a new leader, it can be tough to figure out how to motivate your employees to perform at a higher level at work. Surprisingly, a good place to start doesn’t have much to do with work at all. You can actually look at employees’ hobbies and interests to find clues about what motivates them and apply that insight as you assign and delegate tasks.
A bit of background first: Studies have shown that excessive reliance on extrinsic motivators, such as rewards, praise and prizes, can eventually have a negative impact on a person’s motivation (Watch this excellent TED presentation by Dan Pink for more on that). Intrinsic motivators, the emotions and personal satisfaction a person feels as a result of their actions, whether positive or negative, tend to be more meaningful.
The hobbies and interests of your employees can offer you powerful insight into what matters most to them, how they like to work and more.
For example, I like woodworking, writing, building websites, working on my house, landscaping and cooking. Those activities show that part of what motivates me is analyzing and solving problems. When I do projects or tasks that offer me that opportunity, the work itself becomes a motivator because it provides me with the emotional satisfaction of analyzing and solving a problem.
Those hobbies also reveal that I tend to like working alone. I can (and do) call on customers and socialize with people. However, those activities are work to me. My hobbies are play to me. Work tires while play energizes.
A wise leader hoping to motivate me to higher performance would, as much as possible within the confines of the business need, give me assignments that maximize my ability to analyze and solve problems.
As you consider what motivates your team members, remember to look at their hobbies and interests for clues you can use to work with them in a way that taps their intrinsic motivation as much as possible. For example, an employee who plays on many intramural teams, likely enjoys teamwork and collaboration. And a employee who crafts regularly has a creative side. Assign them tasks that fulfill their passions, and they will likely be motivated to do their very best.
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