Question for Discussion – How important is managing for progress?
The topics of performance evaluations and feedback come up quite often in my executive coaching sessions. It’s human nature that people want to know where they stand.
I often suggest to my coaching clients that in-the-moment feedback based on progress helps motivate people. It can also help avoid those tense performance evaluation meetings where people can be demoralized and become disengaged by negative performance feedback.
What Really Motivates Us?
If you lead knowledge workers, you likely employ these conventional management practices:
- Recruit the best talent.
- Provide appropriate incentives.
- Give stretch assignments to develop talent.
- Use emotional intelligence to connect with each individual.
- Review performance carefully.
Unfortunately, you may miss the most fundamental source of leverage: managing for progress. Recognizing even the smallest win has a more powerful impact than virtually anything else.
In a survey by Amabile and Kramer, 669 managers ranked five factors that could influence motivation and emotions at work:
- 1. Recognition
- 2. Incentives
- 3. Interpersonal support
- 4. Clear goals
- 5. Support for making progress in the work
Managers incorrectly ranked “support for making progress” dead last, with most citing “recognition for good work” as the most important motivator.
Your ability to focus on progress is paramount. Video-game designers excel at this mission, hooking players on the steady pace of progress bars.
