Motivation

One personality trait that many effective leaders share is the ability to motivate others to achieve a common goal. This article examines how project managers can inspire and encourage their project teams--as well as each project team member--to perform well and achieve much. In doing so, it identifies this study's two research questions and explains the advantages and disadvantages of applying four different systems--McGregor's, Herzberg's, McClelland's, and Myers-Briggs's--for understanding how to motivate others. It describes eight mistakes that leaders commonly make when motivating their teams and suggests possible responses for resolving each mistake; it discusses the dynamics and the complexities of motivating project teams, noting the key components involved in motivating high-performing project teams. It then outlines eight strategies for developing a positive-minded approach that can help project managers create a high-performing team culture.