Motivational tips for teachers

In school management, one sure and easy way to achieve the core goals of any school system is getting the teachers motivated so that they would be fully committed and loyal to the course of the organization.
Having been in the school management role for over 6 years of my near 20 years’ experience as a teacher, coupled with my intuition as a management theorist, I am talking about things that are both practical and proven. Experts in the field also concur with this.
When teachers fail to give their best for any reason whatsoever, it becomes difficult to meet up with the expectations of management, irrespective of the level of innovations and policies put together.
Recommended: 7 Reasons Why Teachers Fail at their Duty Post
As it is, smart school owners employ the simplest tool of motivation to get their teachers do their bidding without feeling the pressure and reluctance of doing it.
Of course, there are few insubordinate ones that would always want to rock the boat. I think the school disciplinary policies will take care of that.
Meanwhile, on a general note, I show you eight simple, but proven ways to win over your teachers, irrespective of their natural tendencies, and make them work for you.
 #1. Share your visions with them

Sharing your vision with your teachers helps them appreciate that bigger picture with you. This has a way of motivating them work harder in order to see that big picture becomes a reality. At least everyone wants to be where things are happening. But make sure you’re vision is big enough to be enticing!

#2. Reward commitment appropriately

Simply set up a reward system in your school, and periodically reward teachers who are highly committed to duty. By the time others notice that there is a reward for commitment, they would give it all their best, at least to be in the ‘reward’ list. The resultant effect of this in form of optimum productivity will cover whatever you might have spent in rewarding their commitment.

The ultimate result of this is what in management studies is termed, ‘The workers work more; the non-workers start working’.

 #3.  Give them leadership
Every man takes pride in leadership! Even if it will take you to create units and sub-units in your school, to ensure that every one of your teachers is a ‘leader’, just do that.
Whenever people are given a leadership responsibility, they want to succeed at all cost and by every possible means. You must avoid the mistake of concentrating only on a selected few in your school leadership role. If as a school manager, you’ve never employed this tactics, just try it, and the result will shock you. It works like magic.

#4.  Always give them surprise package

You don’t need to wait for the staff revolt before you increase salaries or improve on their working conditions. Go beyond giving them their due pay and always plan for a surprise mouth-watering package for them at intervals. Do this and your teachers would want to work their skins out in order to reciprocate your good gesture.

#5.  Involve them in the organizational decision-making process

When teachers are made to be part of the organizational decision-making process, it helps to boost their morale. They feel important and relevant, and with such feeling comes the supposition that they are ‘co-owners’ of the school business, and would stop at nothing to see it succeed.

#6.  Be the first to go the way

Here exemplary leadership is the issue. If you are not willing to risk your resources and every other thing that matters to you, for the growth of that organization, be sure none of your teachers would ever try to ‘die’ for another man’s business. But when you show example by giving it your best, they would gladly put in more than you even do to ensure that the school business goals are not jeopardized.

#7.  Show genuine interest in their personal matters

How do you react or respond to the pressing needs and problems encountered by any or every one of your teaching staff?
It could be bereavement, health challenges, financial challenges, family crises or any other life-threatening and heart-breaking experiences. Be sure of this: if you show little or no interest in their personal challenges, they would go with the feeling that they’ve been only your slaves all the while; and no man would want to be a slave for too long. Show interest in their personal matters and they would commit themselves more to the organization beyond your wildest imagination.

#8.  Feel free to share useful ideas with them

Offering counsels and sharing vital ideas and information is another way of telling your teachers how committed you are to their individual quest for personal growth and development. When you make that a habit, your teachers would want to reciprocate by expending themselves to work for you.

No man builds an organization alone successfully without the positive input of other team members. And the school business is not an exception.
You’ve got a great team of work force; all you need to do is encourage and motivate them to put in their best, otherwise they may end up being disgruntled, who are ready enemies within. And be sure, if that becomes their lot, they would collaborate to see to the death of that school.

Simply put: develop a team of loyal and highly committed teacher work force, and you’ve already built for the future! You can now go for your one year sabbatical in Paris.

A Must Read: The Law of 3:4:3 Team Formation in School Management.