Norm Howe's blog

Leading a Cluster of Equals 2: Understanding Motivation

Posted on Aug 18th, 2013 by Norm Howe

Continued from Part 1.

Before we get into the specifics of how to motivate your team members, let’s talk about the subject of motivation itself.  Here is an opportunity for you to use your analytical skills to apply general research to your specific situation.

Frederick Herzberg was a professor in the School of Business at the University of Utah who developed the Dual Structure theory of motivation.  Herzberg defined motivation in a special way.  His research demonstrated that a true motivator is a factor that comes from an internal motor within the employee.  That motor runs under its own power.  The proverbial Kick-In-The-Pants (KITP) can influence employee behavior but it is not a motivator because it requires an external influence and its effect is short term. 

Leading a Cluster of Equals, When You’re NOT a Born Leader. Part 1

Posted on Jul 31st, 2013 by Norm Howe

This is how it starts.  Your boss just assigned a project to you.  It’s too big and too complicated for you to do alone.  So your boss has given you a list of people to help you.  “Great,” you think.  “I’ve been asking for a project like this for a long time.  It’s bigger than anything I’ve ever done, and it’s important for the department to get it done quickly.” 

There’s only one problem.  None of these people report to you.  You can’t order them to do anything.  Most of them don’t work in your department.  Many don’t even work in your company. 

Look at your “team”: 

Pages