Your team isn't lazy—here's what's really happening
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Wel Welcome Reader! "My team has lost all motivation. They're doing the bare minimum and I don't know how to get them re-engaged." I hear this from managers at least once a week. And every time, I ask the same question: "When's the last time you told them specifically what good work looks like?" Nine times out of ten, I get a blank stare. Tuesday Tip!!!Here's what's really happening: Your team isn't lazy. They're confused. They want to do great work, but they're operating with outdated job descriptions, unclear expectations, and feedback that sounds like "good job" or "this needs work" without any specifics. It's like asking someone to hit a target while wearing a blindfold. Eventually, they stop trying to aim. The fix is simpler than you think: Spend 10 minutes this week with each team member answering these questions:
Be specific. Instead of "be more proactive," try "I'd love to see you identify potential roadblocks before they happen and bring me 2-3 options for handling them." I watched one manager transform her "disengaged" team in three weeks using this approach. Turns out, they weren't disengaged – they just didn't know what engagement looked like. The result? Her team started exceeding goals they didn't even know existed. Latest Forbes ArticleIs hustle culture really dead? Well, I certainly remember when it was alive and well. In fact, as a Millennial who entered the business world in the early 2000s, I can’t think of one conference that didn’t have a productivity guru.
Want more tools like this?Ready to re-energize your team? My "Gen Z Manager's Survival Guide" course includes scripts for these exact conversations, plus templates for setting crystal-clear expectations that actually motivate.
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Dr. Colleen Batchelder
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