A good technique is to simply ask members what they would like to get from their association with the team, then listen for areas of possible growth. Leadership A good leader can be a catalyst for motivation in the short term, but the best leaders create the conditions for the team to motivate itself. We have all seen examples of how leaders inspired teams to accomplish some phenomenal task. History books and Hollywood are full of these stories, and we come to honor these leaders. But the charismatic leader that can be so effective in the short term, cannot necessarily sustain motivation indefinitely.
Motivation is inherently intrinsic, residing within oneself.
Therefore, if one depends continually on another for their source of motivation, eventually it ends. Great leaders have a knack for helping others see the best in themselves , providing the stimulus for self-actualizing behaviors. But great leaders also understand the importance of team purpose, challenge, camaraderie, responsibility, and growth, and focus much of their time on creating the conditions for these to exist. Great leaders understand that their team members have needs , and that for motivation to grow and continue, the activities of the team must help in some way to meet these needs. Summary A team whose members are aligned with its purpose, feel a challenge in their task, have a strong sense of camaraderie, feel responsibility for the outcome, and experience growth as a team and in their personal lives, will tend to sustain motivation over the long haul.