Motivation and Inspiration

My life has been fueled by a passion for things that really matter, whether it's animal rights, helping kids, or the thrill of a good sports game. When I talk about these things, it's not just empty words - it's pure passion. And I always loved seeing that spark ignite in the eyes of others who listened. We'd lose track of time, deep in passionate conversations, and by the end, they'd often be fired up, ready to take action. That's the power of passion - it motivates others.

This wasn't just happenstance; it was a principle I carried over to my work. When I had a killer idea, I spoke with passion, conviction, and belief. My teammates noticed. Most of the time (hey, nobody's perfect) my enthusiasm would be contagious, igniting a spark of their own and getting them excited about the project.

Everyone inspires differently. We're all unique individuals, and there's no one-size-fits-all leadership style. The key is to be conscious of your approach and how you deliver your message. That's what ultimately determines the impact you have on others.

Remember, intention and impact are two different things. Before you share an idea, take a moment to clarify your goal and the impact you want to make. By guiding your passion with intention, you'll inspire your team to not just move forward, but move forward together, fueled by a shared purpose.

Influence

Motivate Your Teammates
Your teammates will all share the same ultimate goal, but the factors that motivate each person and maintain morale will vary. As a leader, it's crucial to comprehend what drives each team member you collaborate with. Since you'll mainly interact with the design and engineering teams, it's wise to establish bi-weekly meetings to better understand them. I strongly advocate the coach-care-model approach to leadership, with a particular emphasis on 'care' to grasp what inspires your teammates to excel in their work. During these meetings, you can inquire about what energizes them to start their day, their passions, and the most rewarding aspects of their job.

Inspire belief in your teams work
In my initial role as a director, I was in charge of 12 Product Managers, indirectly overseeing 20 engineers and 5 designers. Our main task was to migrate over 300 sites in six months. Reflecting on it, I believe our team was pivotal at that time.

In every opportunity, whether in leadership meetings or company-wide gatherings, I highlighted our team's contributions, showcasing the value and influence of their work. This approach not only attracted others to join our team but also gave my teammates a broader perspective on the significance of their efforts, inspiring them and others within the organization.

🚨 Important: The team you lead represents a significant investment for the company you work for.

Always be on the lookout for top talent
Leaders consistently maintain a robust talent pipeline to draw from. They're always scouting for fresh talent to expand the organization and fulfill its mission and vision. Personally, I've never been particularly keen on HR, especially in terms of recruiting exceptional talent. As a leader, if you're invested in the organization's and your own future, you'll actively recruit the talent you know is essential.

Constantly seeking top-tier talent is important for several reasons:

1. High-Performing Team: The success of your product relies on your team's skills and dedication. Recruiting and nurturing top talent will to tackle challenges, drive innovation, and achieve great results.
2. Diverse Perspectives: Top talent brings varied backgrounds and ideas, enhancing creativity, problem-solving, and leading to better solutions while avoiding groupthink.
3. Efficiency and Speed: Experienced team members work efficiently, speeding up development and reducing time to market.
4. Attracting Talent: A team of high achievers strengthens your brand, attracts more top talent, lowers recruitment costs, and cultivate a performance-boosting competitive environment.
5. Future-Proofing: Staying ahead in a changing industry requires top talent attuned to new technologies and trends, ensuring your product's long-term relevance and competitiveness.

🚨 Important: When recruiting focus on the right fit. While skills and experience are important, ensure candidates align with your company's values and culture for a harmonious and productive team dynamic.

By actively seeking and nurturing top-tier talent, you'll build an awesome team that can consistently deliver winning products and propel your company to success.

Time to Grow

Speak with Conviction
I recall a conversation with a past mentor. When I hesitated in my response to his question, he interjected, "STOP! You're lacking conviction. How can anyone trust or want to collaborate with you if you don't stand firmly by your words? People need to sense that you're knowledgeable and have a clear direction." This advice has resonated with me ever since. Speaking with conviction demonstrates leadership and clarity, inspiring others to support and follow you.

Deciding When to Extend Deadlines
Occasionally, you may be in a situation where a product launch date is at risk. In such instances, you'll have to make a critical decision: either to postpone the launch date or to proceed as planned and conduct a retrospective analysis with your team afterwards.

Before deciding to push a deadline, it's important to consider several key questions to determine if it's necessary and what alternatives might exist. Here are some things to ask yourself:

1. What is the Impact of the Delay?: Assess the consequences of pushing the deadline. How will it affect the project timeline, client expectations, and overall project goals?
2. Can Scope Be Reduced Instead?: Explore if reducing the scope of the project or product release could help meet the original deadline. Which features or elements could be deprioritized or removed without significantly impacting the end result?
3. What Are the Critical Elements?: Identify the most critical elements of the project that must be completed by the deadline. Can any non-essential parts be postponed?
4. What Led to the Need for a Delay?: Understand the reasons behind the need to push the deadline. Is it due to unforeseen challenges, resource constraints, or scope creep?
5. How Will Stakeholders Be Affected?: Consider the impact on stakeholders, including customers, team members, and partners. How will a delay affect their plans and expectations?
6. Is There a Risk of Compromising Quality?: Determine if meeting the original deadline might lead to a compromise in the quality of the work. Is a delay justified to maintain high standards?
7. What Are the Financial Implications?: Evaluate the financial impact of extending the deadline. Will there be additional costs, and if so, are they justifiable?
8. How Will This Affect Team Morale?: Consider the impact on your team. Will pushing the deadline relieve stress and improve output, or could it lead to frustration and demotivation?
9. Is the New Timeline Feasible?: If you decide to push the deadline, is the new timeline realistic and achievable? Have you accounted for potential risks and challenges that could cause further delays?
10. What Lessons Can Be Learned?: Reflect on what can be learned from this situation to prevent similar issues in future projects.

By carefully considering these questions, you can make a more informed decision about whether to push a deadline or find alternative solutions, such as scope reduction, to stay on track.

Delivery is everything- make it inclusive
Before deciding, carefully consider the pros and cons, and then consult with the engineering and design teams. Remember, while your name may be associated with the project, it's fundamentally a team effort, and your decisions impact everyone involved.

In discussions with your team, ensure the focus isn't on you. Regardless of being the project's face, what's crucial is safeguarding your team. Share openly that you've contemplated the advantages and disadvantages of adjusting the deadline, potential scope reductions, and are receptive to their input. Emphasize that any decision will be a collective one, and it's important that everyone is comfortable with it.

Avoid placing blame. Take responsibility for your actions, especially if they contributed to any delays. Be transparent about the situation and seek the team's suggestions for resolution, always with the goal of a successful launch.

Additionally, recognize the extra effort required and communicate your plan to prevent future overwork. Consider offering a 'free sprint' or 'dead sprint,' where their performance metrics won't be affected, similar to informal PTO, to balance the additional workload.

Turn Challenging Times into Team Camaraderie
Some of my most memorable times with my teammates were when we pushed ourselves to the limit. Obviously you don't want to make a habit of this, but those moments defined us as a team and helped with character building.

Turning those late nights or working weekends into bonding experiences can be both fun and beneficial for team morale. Here are some ideas:

1. Theme Nights: If you're working late, consider having a theme night where everyone dresses up or shares something related to a fun theme. This could be a pajama night, retro 80s, or a favorite movie theme.
2. Potluck Dinners or Snack Sharing: Encourage team members to bring in a favorite dish or snack to share. This not only makes for a more enjoyable evening, but also offers a chance to learn about each other's tastes and cultures.
3. Game Breaks: Schedule short breaks for quick and fun games. This could be anything from a card game, a trivia quiz about the team or project, or even a video game tournament. It's a great way to de-stress and bond.
4. Celebration of Milestones: If you're working late to meet a deadline, celebrate the small milestones along the way. This could be completing a major section of the project or solving a tough problem.
5. Music or Karaoke Night: Playing music or having a karaoke session can be a great way to lighten the mood. Let team members take turns playing DJ or singing their favorite song.
6. Appreciation Round: Have a round where each person appreciates or acknowledges another team member's efforts or qualities. This can greatly boost morale and team spirit.

Remember, the key to these activities is to not make them feel forced and to ensure they don't distract too much from the work that needs to be done. They should serve as brief interludes to refresh and energize the team.

Ways to Motivate
Showing your passion in hopes of inspiring and energizing your team is one approach to sharing your ideas and vision. However, this doesn't always work for everyone. There will be times where your ideas are turned down because someone doesn't share your viewpoint, and what motivates you might not be the same for them. This ties back to the importance of truly getting to know your teammates and caring about them as individuals in your role as a leader, beyond just focusing on the work that needs to be completed.

Here are some ways to motivate your team, incorporating autonomy, mastery, and purpose, along with additional factors:

Autonomy:

• Delegate effectively: Trust your team with ownership of tasks and projects, providing clear objectives but giving them freedom on how to achieve them.
• Empower decision-making: Encourage your team to make informed decisions within their areas of expertise without needing excessive approval.
• Offer flexible work arrangements: Allow for flexible schedules, remote work options, and autonomy over how they structure their workday.

Mastery:

• Provide opportunities for growth and development: Offer training programs, skill-building workshops, and access to resources that help your team learn and hone their skills.
• Mentorship programs: Pair experienced team members with new colleagues for guidance and support. Encourage peer-to-peer mentorship and knowledge sharing.
• Challenge your team with meaningful tasks: Assign tasks that stretch their abilities and offer opportunities to learn new things, preventing boredom and stagnation.

Purpose:

• Communicate a clear vision and mission: Explain how their work contributes to a larger purpose, connecting their individual tasks to the company's overall goals.
• Promote social impact: Allow your team to participate in volunteering or corporate social responsibility initiatives, connecting their work to making a positive difference.
• Showcase the impact of their work: Share customer testimonials, case studies, or data that demonstrates the real-world value of their efforts.

Positive Work Environment:

• Open communication: Create a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas, concerns, and feedback without fear of judgment. Regular team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, and anonymous feedback tools can facilitate this.
• Collaboration and teamwork: Encourage cross-functional projects, knowledge sharing sessions, and team-based goals to foster a sense of belonging and shared success. Celebrate diverse perspectives and teamwork wins.
• Psychological safety: Build trust and respect within the team. Encourage team members to take risks, experiment, and learn from mistakes without fear of blame or criticism.
• Recognition and appreciation: Publicly acknowledge individual and team contributions, big or small. Implement peer-to-peer recognition programs, shout-outs in meetings, or handwritten thank-you notes to show genuine appreciation.

Work-Life Balance:

• Encourage breaks and healthy habits: Discourage overworking and promote mindful breaks, exercise, and healthy habits within the team culture. Lead by example with your own work-life balance.
• Discourage after-hours work: Set clear expectations around working hours and promote boundaries. Lead by example by disconnecting after work hours and respecting your team's personal time.

Personal Connections:

• Team-building activities: Organize regular team-building events, both virtual and in-person, that encourage informal interactions, shared experiences, and laughter.
• Social events: Host casual lunches, coffee breaks, or virtual happy hours to encourage casual conversations and strengthen personal bonds.
• Buddy system: Implement a buddy system for new team members or those working remotely to help them feel connected and supported.
• Open communication channels: Encourage informal communication through team chats, online channels, or even water cooler moments to build rapport and a sense of community.

Remember, it's all about creating a space where your team feels valued, respected, and supported to do their best work. When they feel connected to the purpose of their work, have opportunities to learn and grow, and experience a positive work environment, they'll be naturally motivated to excel and contribute to the team's success.

Final Words 📖

Displaying enthusiasm can be a powerful tool for inspiring and motivating those around you. This strategy can be highly effective, yet it's important to recognize that what works for one may not work for all. Dedicate time to individually connect with your teammates. These one-on-one interactions are an opportunity to understand their unique perspectives and show that you value them beyond their professional roles.

There are additional steps you can take to further motivate your team. Consider empowering them with the freedom to make decisions, supporting their journey towards improving their skills, and cultivating a sense of purpose. Creating a positive and supportive work environment that equally values professional growth and a healthy balance between work and personal life can also contribute significantly to their motivation and well-being.

Remember, as a leader, the team you guide is a significant asset to the organization. Their efforts need to be visible and recognized. Seize every chance to support your team, whether in leadership meetings or company-wide events. Speak with conviction and clarity about their contributions and how these align with the organization's goals. Effective communication is key, and backing up your words with data, key performance indicators, and alignment with the company’s vision and mission can make a substantial impact.

Next Steps 🚀

1. 10 ways to motivate employees
2. 9 ways to empower your team as a product manager
3. Coach, Care, Model
4. Dealing with Deadlines