The Magic Ingredients of Self-Motivating Teams

We often hear phrases like “teamwork makes the dream work” and credit the vision of self-managed teams as key to corporate success. However, finding the right team members who can be nurtured into becoming self-managed is equally crucial. Can any team become self-managed or self-motivated simply through improved management and pep talks, or are there other essential elements at play?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, self-motivation is defined as being “very enthusiastic or determined to do or achieve something, without needing to be encouraged by anyone else.” A self-motivated team is thus a group of highly enthusiastic or determined individuals who take full responsibility and work towards a common goal without needing constant oversight from management. As a cooking enthusiast and almost a part-time cook, I understand the importance of quality ingredients in creating a great recipe. Lets look at the ingredients for a self-motivated and self-managed teams.

Much has been studied about how managers and organizations can encourage self-managed teams, including through servant leadership, fostering a healthy work-life balance, and setting clear goals. However, it’s important to understand the personality traits needed for team members to thrive in and promote this kind of culture.

1. Creativity: People with a creative trait often solve problems in innovative ways. They are self-driven by their creativity. With the right boundaries and goals set by managers, they can flourish and inspire others.
2. Conscientiousness: This trait involves being responsible, accountable, and trustworthy. It helps team members develop plans to achieve the team’s goals.
3. Communication: The ability to clearly and openly articulate messages at the right time with each other and stakeholders is essential. This is only possible when the team culture allows for freedom of expression and ensures that messages are received positively.
4. Collaboration: Team members must be able to share ideas, listen to others, and collectively develop plans to achieve common goals. Respect and agreement within the team are crucial. Managers should create a collaborative rather than competitive environment, with a physical workspace that supports collaborative efforts.
5. Empathy: Understanding, sharing, and responding to each other’s emotional experiences is vital for building connectivity and respect within the team. Managers can facilitate this by conducting workshops or leading by example.

While other traits like curiosity, resilience, and discipline are equally important and can be developed over time, it’s essential to have team members with diverse skill sets and emotional intelligence. Providing the right culture allows team members to learn from and complement each other’s strengths.

With these key ingredients and the right recipe, a team can achieve amazing results, much like a culinary masterpiece.