CADDManager on June 9th, 2011
This entry is part 11 of 11 in the series Seven Functions of a CAD Manager

“Let’s get this done” – “We can do this” – “It is not as bad as it appears” – “We need to kick it into high gear”

These are just some of the motivating statements that might be used in your daily interactions with your team and others.  The CAD Manager has to motivate people to encourage progress.  Motivation is the process we use to spur others on to action.

It is imperative that the CAD Manager be a motivator so that the firm move forward on all front.  They need to motivate in the small stuff and the large things.  Daily, weekly and ongoing motivation is needed because people get bogged down in the project work and may lose sight of the purpose of where they are headed and why they are doing it.

Extrinsic Motivation is when you are motivated by something outside of your own thoughts and internal desires.  This is where the CAD Manager lives in relationship to others.  All  of the statement above can be used in an extrinsic manner when working with others.  Extrinsic motivations can include money, grades, time off, extra benefits, avoidance of pain or effort and many more ways of getting things moving.

Intrinsic Motivation is when someone is motivated by their own internal desires, values or feeling of duty.  We all have this within us in differing measures.  Some can energize themselves, pick up the pieces after a failure and strive for more out of themselves without much interaction with others or reward at the end of the process.  Others may need to be motivated when they have no internal desire to move forward.

The CAD Manager may have access to tangible motivators like bonuses, gifts and such but most likely they do not on a regular basis.  So they have to define motivators that can be used that may not involve some physical reward.

Here is a list of some Extrinsic Motivations that I have used:

Build Teams. Define a team that helps with software decision – adding the right people to the team will be a motivator.  Those involved will feel appreciated and take a higher stake in production.  Take a look at the posts I have on CAD Standards Teams

Ask spot questions. Just asking what someone thinks about your processes or standards can motivate them with a feeling of involvement.  When people feel  that they are involved and that they are contributing, it makes them willing to push a little harder on their efforts.

Give rewards. Extra software utilities that do not cost a lot can be purchased and distributed first to those that need a little motivation.  Tossing a little utility at those who are trying to improve can make them try even harder.

Buy them lunch – or provide lunch at a casual meeting.  Ask several users to come to a meeting at lunch (onsite of off) where you will gather some ideas about what might be done better.  Creative conversations can spark users to think outside the box an come up with new approaches to getting things done.

Give people credit. When a good idea is provided make sure that you announce who gave it to you or who was pivotal in making a new initiative work.  Giving credit to those that help you will encourage them to help you again.

Talk about the big picture. Some may be motivated by the long range, big idea discussions.  Just knowing what is going on elsewhere in the firm can help people grasp the purpose beyond their own project and function.  If times are tough and they will soon change, just knowing what is planned for the next few months can keep people from frustration and giving up.

Tell people Why. Besides knowing what needs to be done, tell people why it needs to be done.  No one likes being given directions without much information.  Provide more than is expected and it will motivate individuals and teams.

 

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