For many people, making forward progress on their work is critical to the enjoyment of their work and to their motivation. Even a little progress triggers a feeling of accomplishment we need and helps us sustain our productivity. In The Progress Principle, Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer suggest that progress is a significant contributor to motivation, creativity, and employee engagement. Lab managers can help staff make and feel progress through a variety of actions. Helping staff make continual progress, even in small steps, yields significant returns as their performance increases due to the motivation and satisfaction it drives. Here are three actions lab managers can take to help staff keep making forward progress:
#1 – Clear goals and alignment
It is vital that staff clearly understand what is needed to make forward progress. Provide everyone in the lab with SMART objectives that are well-aligned with the lab’s vision, mission, and purpose. When people can see the connection between their daily work and the lab's mission, they understand the benefits and importance of their work. When they develop an emotional bond with the lab’s outcomes, they will dedicate themselves more to the work.
#2 – Remove barriers
One key role of the lab manager is to actively identify and remove barriers that prevent the team from completing the work. Barriers can take many forms, including administrative hurdles, unnecessary paperwork, delayed decisions, unclear roles, or a lack of resources needed to complete the work. An effective way to learn about and surface barriers is to talk with lab staff while they do the work. Ask them about the issues they face and get their ideas on how to enable the work to proceed more effectively and faster. Once barriers are identified, take action to reduce or eliminate the problems.
#3 – Praise, recognition, and gratitude
Even small increments of forward progress are beneficial. Be generous with your praise and recognition around the lab for all kinds of progress. Don’t save praise and recognition just for the big accomplishments. Demonstrate through your words and actions that all levels of forward progress are important and valuable. Take the time to thank people for their work, effort, and ideas. Thank you might be the most important words in any workplace. They demonstrate that you recognize the person doing the work, and that the work has value.
Building motivation across the lab requires patience and dedication. There are many actions lab managers can take to help increase motivation. This investment will pay off with increased engagement, productivity, and ownership.
