By Eric Watkins
As a first-time leader, you’re expected to do more than manage operations. You’re also faced with the responsibility of motivating your direct reports. That’s a big ask, given that Gallup’s annual worker engagement survey shows that barely three out of 10 employees feel engaged on the job. Yet, it’s not a duty you can shirk. The sooner you help your team feel more connected to your department and company mission—and each other—the sooner you can start revving up productivity and showing your leadership moxy.This begs the question: How do you motivate the unmotivated? You can start by understanding why disengagement occurs. When employees feel burned out, unappreciated, and devalued, they naturally pull back emotionally and performance-wise. Eventually, they either quietly quit or seek out other work. Either way, that ends up having a negative impact on your business, and it also puts a negative spotlight on your ability to manage.
