How to Effectively Demotivate Staff
by Laurie Wilhelm
There’s a lot of information online on how to motivate staff and get work done effectively and efficiently. However, there’s little information on demotivators at work. Give these demotivators in the workplace a try and see how little you can accomplish.
Don’t give credit for their contributions, assistance, and efforts – take it for yourself
Your staff is yours so whatever they do is yours. If you delegate an assignment to someone make sure that the finished product has your name on the cover. If you want, you can add “with assistance by…” in the inside cover if your staff person has to see his name in writing. Otherwise, your name will do fine and that’s all that’s needed to represent your staff.
Be wishy-washy and avoid making a decision
Making a decision can be time consuming and challenging. It may be best not to make one so you don’t have to commit. Besides, if you do make a concrete decision it may give too much direction and your staff may spend their time working towards that goal. Having them feel unsure of what they’re to be doing keeps them on their toes and always on the lookout for some leadership.
Forget what you say you’ll do
There’s little need to do what you say. You only said it in the first place to appear interested and part of the team. Your assistant is there to pick up the pieces when they fall through the cracks. You probably have so much on your plate that your boss will understand if you “drop the ball” on something. And if it turns into a problem, there’s always someone in your staff who should take the blame.
Avoid rewarding anyone
If you reward one person for a job well done, you’ll have to reward them all. They do get a pay check every other week, don’t they? Really, that’s reward enough.
Only talk to your staff when you need something from them
You’re too high up on the ladder to interact with your staff and encourage good relationships with them. In any case, they should be making the effort with you. After all, you spent years ingratiating yourself to your superiors, why shouldn’t they?
Never, ever say thank you
They should be happy to work for you and thanks isn’t necessary. It’s not for you to care that they worked until 10pm three nights this past week to get the project done on time. It’s their job and they have to do what it takes to get it done. Besides, when it comes down to it, they should know you occasionally think thanks.
Combine a few of these together and you’ll effectively demotivate your staff. Your department may not get as much done as they could in a week, but that’s OK. Whatever isn’t done this week, can be done next week…maybe.
