How to Motivate Your Lazy Co-workers - The Muse

How to Motivate Your Lazy Co-workers - The MuseHow to Motivate Your Lazy Co-workers I remember how excited I was for my first job. I was 16 and a sales associate at American Eagle Outfitters- I couldnt wait to learn about denim colors and how to use the fancy-looking cash register.Several weeks in, I found myself more and more frustrated with my team. I grew up being told that, Even if you have leidhing to do, theres always something you can do. So, I kept busy helping customers, folding shirts, organizing the back counter, and restocking dwindling piles of jeans. Apparently no one else got the memo, because while I bustled around fixing things here and there, my co-workers leaned against the counter and chatted, openly tried on the new clothes in stock, or went on long coffee breaks.To put it lightly, it annoyed me. Its never a good feeling when youre putting in your all at a job and the people around you are barely showing up. While I spent (too much) time being angry with my colle agues, Ive learned a lot since. Mainly, that its more productive to get your co-workers on the saatkorn page than to complain about them. But, how do you do that when youre not the boss? Try these tactics to motivate your co-workers to stay active and engaged.1. Recognize What Motivates ThemIn a great talk on motivation, author and New York Times bestseller Gretchen Rubin speaks about four types of people and how they respond to rules. The Upholder is someone who follows both outer (imposed on you) and inner (personal goals) rules and is motivated by fulfillment. This person wakes up thinking, What is on the schedule or to-do list today?The Questioner is someone who will follow the rules if they make sense, and are thus motivated by sound reasoning. This person wakes up thinking, What needs to get done today?The Rebel is someone who resists all rules, and is instead motivated by present desires. This person wakes up thinking, What do I want to do today?The Obliger is someone who fol lows external rules but struggles with his or her own internal rules, and therefore is motivated by external accountability. This person wakes up thinking, Whats expected of me today?Even before you approach your co-worker, be aware of what kind of person he or she is. Is she inspired by achieving something, or more concerned about letting someone down? Does he question everything or hate to follow the rules? These qualities really do affect how you can begin to communicate. So, if your co-worker tends to not respond to an authoritative approach (a Rebel), it might be smarter to present a challenge rather than a command Jill isnt sure we can get the presentation done by this afternoon. What do you think? Or, if shes a Questioner, maybe she needs a reason for why she should contribute Hey, any chance you could write that recap email to the sales team? Im worried its coming off too harsh and youre better at expressing these things than I am. Really, it might be as simple as how you ph rase a request that makes all the difference in whether or not a person actually listens.2. Ask for Help- or Ask to HelpIf youre not the boss, then you probably dont want to blatantly tell a colleague to get to work. It probably wont be effective, and it probably wont earn you too many friends in the office. So, instead, you should bring him in rather than call him out. What does that mean? Just as I couldve easily asked one of my co-workers to help me restock the shelves at AE, you can ask your colleagues to split a project with you, give you advice on a press release youre writing, or organize some files alongside you.On the other hand, when someone doesnt seem to be doing anything at all, its often times productive to offer to help him. Theres always a chance the reason hes slacking is really because hes stuck on an idea, or maybe confused about an assignment, or overwhelmed to the point of giving up. Simply saying, Hey, I noticed youve been staring at your computer all day- Im f ree for a bit, anything I can help you out with? could be all he needs to get back on track or to open up. Or, best-case scenario, he might just say back, No, sorry, just got distracted. Thanks and refocus on his own.3. Be Direct as to How This Affects YouBut, when this becomes a common occurrence and starts to take away from your work, you have the right to politely bring it up to her that her lack of effort is affecting your own progress. (Note Make sure youre speaking on your own behalf, and not your managers or companys.)Im a big fan of I statements, such as Im really swamped with this assignment Ted gave us this week, do you know when youll have time to start on it? or Im worried we wont get this proposal out in time if we both dont work on it today. This underutilized communication strategy always makes your comments feel less confrontational and more I need you, how can we fix this together?Assuming your co-worker isnt purposefuly being lazy as a way to make you look bad, thi s direct approach often does the trick. Even if he no longer cares about the work, odds are high he doesnt want anyone (including you) to be upset with him. Youre not the work police, but youre also not responsible for doing other peoples jobs for them. So, speak up when necessary. Just make sure youre speaking up in a way thatll get people to listen.