The Question

From a principal working in a public school in the US…

How do you balance motivation with pressure to get the team to work towards the vision of the company/entity?

Also, how to handle a team member whose heart just isn’t into that vision?

My Answer

Answering your first question…

How do you balance motivation with pressure to get the team to work towards the vision of the company/entity?

The problem is motivation.  It’s just not sustainable because when you motivate someone the “pressure” (as you point out) comes from the outside.

Stop trying to motivate people.

Inspire them instead.

Inspiration is sustainable because it comes from the inside.

Listen to the interview with Dr. Lance Secretan where he addresses this notion of motivation vs. inspiration.  CLICK HERE to access the interview.

How do you get the team to work towards a common vision?

Read the book by Patrick Lencioni entitled “Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars”

There’s another book by Lencioni you AND your team must read.  It will help you all understand what it takes to build a high performing team.  The book is entitled “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”

Here’s the problem you’ll run into if you aren’t careful – – you work in a school system and teachers (I’m guessing this is your team) have “seen it all” and this book and your efforts will likely be seen as “just another example of the new thing”.  If you want your efforts to work then you’ve got to follow through ALL THE TIME.  If you (personally) can’t commit to following through all the time then I advise you to save your energy (i.e. don’t waste your time).

You write:

Also, how to handle a team member whose heart just isn’t into that vision?

I’m guessing you are referring to a teacher and I bet this teacher is tenured.

Hire a coach that specializes in helping people re-connect with their passion.  When people live and follow their passion they don’t have time to play the “small game”.  They won’t tolerate people or situations that don’t support them.

And if this team member won’t get on board?  Then you’ll have to let them go.  If this is a tenured teacher this will be hard.

Here’s what it all boils down to…

You are creating your experience.  You are responsible for everything in your life (including your experience with this team member).  When you change what’s going on inside you the outer will change.

And how do you change the inner?

The best way to start learning is from a new movie on DVD entitled “The Secret”.  Learn about it HERE  You can order it off the site, watch it on the website, or you might be able to find it at your neighborhood DVD rental place.

Get this movie as fast as you can.  Watch it as many times as you can.

Learn and apply what this movie has to share and you will be amazed at the types of teams you can build.