How To Motivate People

My career is still in its beginnings, but I've had the privilege to manage numerous individuals in different positions over the years. Although managing and keeping order and discipline might be something that frightens some future managers, I have to say that the number one problematic [in my point of view, whatever that's worth] is keeping the troops motivated for the long run. There are many ways to make sure everyone keeps their heads up and pushes through the slumps, and I'll try to share what worked well for me.

Give Them Achievable Goals - Sometimes

The problem with motivation is that it's very fragile. If your objectives are too easy or too hard, employees will not give their 100%. So how can you assure that employees give their all?

I believe that, by giving multiple objectives, it is easier to keep everyone motivated.

• Give them easy, achievable goals that will only require basic effort.
• Give them medium goals that will be more demanding, either by working harder or just by forcing them to use some key talents that otherwise may be wasted. Usually, these talents are the reasons you hired them in the first place, but having the talents and using the talents are two different things.
• Finally, give them goals that are difficult to achieve, where employees will feel a sens of accomplishment and distinction for surpassing "normal" expectations. These should be used as a way to offer recognition to your superstars (although I'm sure all of your employees are superstars!).

For this, I'll give you an example of managing 50 students-turned-international-development-agents as part of my time as Head of Trade Mission with the Missions commerciales de l'Université Laval. We would require each agent to make 10 cold calls per week (easy goal), participate in two sales pitch meetings (medium goal) and sign contracts (difficult goals). Nobody "failed", but only 2-5% of the members achieved the difficult goals each week which created a healthy sense of competition within our organisation. 

This structure of goals offers everyone a sens of accomplishment while it remains a motivation source to help the best shine and the others to push harder and not fall back in front of their peers.

Help Them Reach Their Dreams - Big or Small

Employees who you want to retain are often the ones you'll lose. Read that twice to make sure you remember.

There are numerous reasons for why it is hard to keep your superstar employees within the company, such as:

- Lack of a challenge: the responsibilities are making the employee feel like a babysitter. Give him responsibilities that match his capabilities, his ambition and his motivation. Top-notch employees will often be able to motivate themselves, but for a limited time. Challenging them with harder and harder tasks can help, but without knowing what the employee wants to achieve, time will take its toll and the employee will eventually look elsewhere to reach his or her potential.

- Lack of investment in employee development: I see a lot of my ex-colleagues flip-flop through different organizations every 6-12 months. I always ask them why, and more often than not they'll tell me they didn't feel like they were "one" with the company. Managers must make their employees feel like they're an important part of the strategic development plan of the organization, and the best way to do this is invest in their development. Training seminars, weekend conferences, trade shows and other industry-related activities as well as night classes are a great way to make employees believe they are valuable assets to the company's success.

Make Others Decide What to Do - Just Make Sure It's What You Want Them To Do!

I remember reading one of Dale Carnegie's books a few years back called "How to Win Friends and Influence People" [For anyone who's working in a group environment, be it as a manager or not, I strongly suggest reading it]. One thing that I learned from this amazing book is how to *cough* manipulate others. 

Now let's calm down - as far as I'm concerned, everything we do is somehow impacted by numerous influences. The chips you get at the grocery store, the car you buy, the coffee you drink and the clothes you wear are all decisions YOU make. But to say you make that decision alone would be foolish. There are so many outside influences that affect your decision-making process: friends & family, marketing campaigns, society (what image you want to project), etc.

So the idea here is to have a strong influence on the decision made by your employee that it is "guaranteed" to go your way.

When you're managing a large group, and you need everyone to be open to a proposed solution for a problem (like in company culture, structure or just a touchy situation that requires 100% acceptation of the proposed solution), you need to be able to communicate the message in a way that doesn't hurt the morale.

The easiest way to have a group of employees accept a decision is if this decision comes from  their inner-circle, discussed around the water cooler. So when you're faced with this situation, you have two possibilities.

1. You can corner an employee into being your lab rat and convincing him to propose the desired solution. This can have horrible side-effects, such as groups forming within your employees since your lab rat is most likely the same every time and most employees are getting sick of his "corporate" ideas, or he can rat you out (no pun intended) and then you end up looking like quite an idiot.
   
2. Option two, on the other hand, gives you methods to layout the landscape in a way that, through group brainstorming, your solution comes up as the ideal solution. The group will feel so intelligent for thinking up this master-plan that they can't wait to put it into gears. You, on the other hand, won't have to take heat in the situation and will be pleased with the results!
   
   Plus, this creates a sens of ownership for the employees who, collectively, have decided this plan of action. Therefore, there is a better chance of everyone pulling through to make it work. The solution will be implemented, employees will be happy because they were part of the brainstorm and believe they own the idea.
   
   Imposing a change could discourage your employees, while creating this sense of importance within the organisation will MOTIVATE them to succeed, to prove that their idea was the best!

PS: Haven't done this in a while, but I saw this ad and thought it was a good eye-catcher!



Until next time :)

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Pierre Babineau is an MBA graduate from Laval University. Currently working as an Industrial Marketing Advisor at FPInnovations, he has worked in Canada, USA, South Africa and India in numerous positions such as International Development Agent, Head of Trade Mission, Director of Internet Marketing and an Independent Consultant for various companies.

You can reach Pierre Babineau on Twitter, LinkedIn or on his personal website.

Follow @pierrebab

Network like a King

As far back as I can remember, teachers in my business classes (at least the teachers that were good ...and every student reading this would agree some teachers are "questionably qualified" for their jobs) would always say that networking is sooooo important.

Throughout my BBA at Moncton University, my networking effort was, *cough*, limited. Why would I waste my time talking to some old, random guys about their businesses? What in the world could that actually give me? The answer: it can literally give you every advantage in the world!

Let me tell you something: The very first thing, and the most useful thing I learned through my experience as an MBA student at Laval University (and especially within the Missions commerciales de l'Université Laval organization) is the importance and the benefits that come from proper networking efforts. Since my un-intended return to Moncton back in September, my networking efforts have gone up by 100%, and the outcome is insanely positive. What kind of benefits am I seeing in such a short period of time? Multiple job offers, numerous invitations to "invitation only" networking events [like the Rolls Royce of the networking world ...sounded cooler in my head] and so many new contacts in every corner of every industry that's present all over the Province.

When I see young business students waste their time sleeping, partying, watching TV and "studying", I feel like kicking them in the *ss, tell them to get out there, learn about the "old guys'" experiences and develop their network.

Again, that would be me being a hypocrite since I've never done it back then. But why shouldn't I help them avoid the mistakes I've made? Well, here's me taking a shot at it: GO NETWORK !!!!!

Why should I go to networking events? Why is it so important?

Gain knowledge in random industries
Listen, we all have preferences in life, and we all dream of working for the NFL's marketing department, or as a photographer for Playboy magazine,but let's be honest: for the average guy, that (unfortunately) won't happen. So why not learn about everything else in life? At such a young age, your brain is like a sponge. Use it at the fullest of its capacities.

I've worked in so many random industries - from a sports equipment salesman, to forestry, going through transportation facilitators for children with limited mobility, selling trailers and working for the government [a little self-advertisement here: check out my full profile: LinkedIn or my personal website]. Some of the industries, I didn't like as much as the next. But guess what - there is no such thing as learning something useless!

I like to know plenty of random facts, and guess what: it's GOLD in a job interview! When someone talks about their company, and you have absolutely no idea what he's talking about, don't avoid the subject - he is the most important resource you could possibly have! ACTIVELY listen to their story, get their business card, and never shy away from telling them your story of why you're so gosh darn great and anyone who hires you will be beyond happy that they took a chance on a young graduate. And hey, you never know when you'll need someone who's a molecular biologist or a storage bin manufacturer!

Build your network (aka GET A JOB)
In case you haven't noticed, the job market is tough. Nobody can get a job out of college and/or university, and it's impossible to get a good job.

FALSE

First of all, you're a recent grad - you don't get a good job, you get a first job!

Secondly, the job market isn't that tough. People just don't know how to find a job. Sitting at home behind your computer, looking at Kijiji ads and listings on Monster.com won't get you very far in life.

Stop being lazy, and make a name for yourself. Sending a Resume through an info@company.com address won't get you very far. Everybody is able to sell themselves better in person than on a piece of paper. And guess what - networking events are filled with company CEOs, HR personnel and management-level employees. They are literally sitting there, waiting for you to come over and sell yourself. And guess what - if you listened to what the storage bin manufacturer said, you can impress the production manager from the filling cabinet production plant!

[Side note: I hear so many of my friends complain that they're struggling to land that great job, their career starter. Don't wait for that job, you're ruining your self-brand by adding a huge gap between your graduation date and God-knows-when you'll actually get that perfect job that is impossible to get. Anyone who's ever asked me, I've given them the same advice: apply everywhere for 2 weeks. Take in the job offers, and take the best that is currently available. You'll work, make money, and gain experience. How often do you hear "I'm sorry sir, you don't have enough experience for this position"? Guess what: That first "shitty" job will get you that experience. So stop waiting for a perfect job to fall on your lap, put some working boots on, and go work for what you want!]

The most important thing out of all of this is that everyone you meet, if you make a good impression, WILL remember you! I've met some businessman who I see once every couple of years, and they always remember my name. So when his friend, the owner of the company across the road, is looking for a consultant, guess who's going to pop up in his mind - MOI.

Make friends - the good type!
Listen, we all have the beer-chugging, party animal, no sleep required friends from university. And guess what: if you want to make a career out of your 7 years at university and your $60,000 student debt, you need to get rid of them. Maybe that's harsh, let's try that again: you need to see them in moderation, and in a non-public setting. Better?

Don't get me wrong, I love my friends, but at a certain point in life, everything around you becomes a part of your image and your self-brand. So getting tagged in a Facebook picture with 6 shirtless guys (with 2 of them having questionable stains on their pants) and a keg with 13 empty beer cans and a bong next to you probably won't impress the client you're trying to close a deal with or the owner of the financial planning institute down the road.

Enjoy your youth - I've done more than my share of partying, and I think most people who've I've met throughout my university life would agree I would rarely shy away from a beer or two. But know when you need to transition into the "real" life. I see too many graduate that don't grasp this concept quickly enough and burn down bridges. The business community is small and trust me, EVERYONE talks. So put your best foot forward every time you meet someone because you never know who he knows that might know a guy who knows the HR person at that company that could use a professional, smart, handsome young graduate!

Take the opportunity to also speak with the younger crowd at these networking functions. Chances are they are in the same shoes as you, looking for a break into the real world and hoping to build a company and rule the world in the next 5 years (ambition, gotta love it!). No matter what their education background, you never know where they'll be in 10 years from now. Make sure you're on their good side, before they become a big-shot lawyer or a buyer for one of your clients! Plus, spending time with young minds that are on the same wave-link as yours can lead to great friendships and perfect business partners down the road!

Where do I find these epic networking events?

Now that you see why you NEED to be networking, it gets interesting. So many choices...

In case you didn't know, most cities have a Chamber of Commerce (for my friends in Moncton and Quebec) which is a great place to start. They'll have their usual events (morning networking, After-5's, etc. ). These are all great, and should be a must for any business student or graduate, even after having found your first job (you have a bit of experience, so look for the break you've worked for to go from "first shitty job" to "career starter").

Something else that's a goldmine is training seminars. The Chamber of Commerce will offer some, while companies and government entities will also offer various sessions on a multitude of subjects. And guess who attend these training seminars - business people! If the networking at these events doesn't seem sufficient to go, you'll even learn something!

[Another little moment of in-blog advertisement: There's a great seminar coming to New-Brunswick at the end of March - NB Export Awareness for New Exporters, from March 24th to 28th. I will be one of the speakers, giving an introduction training session on Social Media Marketing. We're hitting all 5 "major" cities in NB. Learn more HERE or Register HERE!]

If you want to find a job in a specific field or industry, then go to industry-related activities. Trade shows are definitely the place to be, as everything from SMEs to large corporations, related associations and organizations will be present. Everyone in these events are key contacts, since they know everyone in the industry and can be such an enormous help to find the right opportunity for you.

Finally, networking can be done anywhere:
-  In the airport or on the plane: This is actually a golden opportunity. Since many important businessman are impossible to get a hold of because they are always so busy, finding them waiting in an airport lounge is the perfect opportunity to talk to some busy people on their down-time. If you sit down next to someone on the plane, ask them about themselves. Ask about the book their reading, or discuss the issue of Canadian Business they're reading.
- In Starbucks: Find someone in a suit, reading the business section of the newspaper. Yes, he might sound annoyed that you're ruining his morning "caramel macchiato, venti, skim, extra shot, extra-hot, extra-whip, sugar-free" ritual, but as long as you're trying you might fall on the right person eventually, and that's worth a shot!"
- Gym: Everyone knows a healthy body is needed to keep the brain running! Find someone doing cardio and  reading the business section of the newspaper or a business-related book and ask them about it.
- ...

Bottom line: If you're a business student, you need to get out there and network. You're life should revolve around networking, and you should treat everyone and anyone as potential bosses, clients, investors, references, associates, buyers, sellers, partners, suppliers, distributors, employees, shareholders or babysitters. Just don't wait too late to start!

PS: If you want to meet up for a coffee to talk, let me know. I'm always open to starting new relationships and grow my network... as long as you're paying!

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Pierre Babineau is an MBA graduate from Laval University. Currently working as an Industrial Marketing Advisor at FPInnovations, he has worked in Canada, USA, South Africa and India in numerous positions such as International Development Agent, Head of Trade Mission, Director of Internet Marketing and an Independent Consultant for various companies.

You can reach Pierre Babineau on Twitter, LinkedIn or on his personal website.

Follow @pierrebab

Why Traveling is Important for Every Business Student (if you want to be successful...)

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Hello world!

Since this is a first in the blogging world for me, let me give you a quick idea of who I am. My name is Pierre Babineau, 24 years young, and I am an Industrial Marketing Advisor with FPInnovations in New-Brunswick. I'm from East Coast Canada, a proud Acadian, and an avid fan of the Montreal Canadiens. I graduated from Université Moncton (BBA - International Management) and followed it by going to Laval University (MBA - Marketing), where I recently graduated.

I've been debating on starting a blog over the past couple of years, but lack of time (and mostly procrastination) has kept me silent. However, after my last business trip to the USA, I had so many things to say and ideas going through my mind that I decided to use this platform to express what I have hiding inside of me. It will be based on marketing, but I'll be all over the place to keep you all guessing. Eventually I might actually discuss something marketing related...

First thing I have to say with this blog: Students, you HAVE to TRAVEL!

Traveling is so much more than a vacation. To be honest, my traveling experiences are far from relaxing, and I do not consider them vacations at all. Leaving your country and visiting other countries - and more importantly, living in a new, unknown environment and learning how cultures are incredibly diversified - is key to reaching higher peaks in your career. Why? Easy:

1. Traveling will open your mind to bigger problems than the ones you see in your day-to-day life.

I'm from Moncton, New-Brunswick, Canada. You're done checking Google Maps? OK. In this small city of less than 200 000 citizens, we see certain problems (both from our society and our political system). However, leaving my nest and visiting countries like Mexico, Poland, Estonia, South Africa, India or China opened my mind to where the true, larger problems lie. Whether you want to discuss over-population, discrimination, pollution, poverty, drugs, prostitution, or ever access to clean water and education (etc. etc.), seeing it with your own eyes will help you understand how important these issues are and why we, as the global society, need to work together and address these.

2. Traveling will help you understand what is the thought behind "Capitalism 24902".

Not sure what it is? Can't blame you. It hasn't really caught on yet, but I believe it's worth looking into. Sir Richard Branson (for those who don't know, he's the brain behind the Virgin Empire) has discussed this project in both "Screw Business as Usual" and briefly in a chapter in "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won't Teach You at Business School", both books which should be read by any entrepreneur enthusiast. To make it short, "It means reinventing how we live in the world to create a far more balanced, healthy, and peaceful place". If you don't know what the problems are globally, how can you join the movement? And trust me, if Sir Branson says that's the way the business world is going, you better join it and not fight it!

3. Traveling helps you grow as an individual.

When you travel, you develop numerous important traits that will help you all along your life, both personally and professionally. Among other things, you will become resourceful, independent, confident and open-minded. Who doesn't want that?

4. Traveling will help you become an international citizen.

Logging into Facebook, you will have posts from 40 different countries from every timezone in the world. You will force yourself to learn basics in multiple languages. But most importantly, you will develop your global network! Once you enter the workforce, you will quickly realize that having contacts in every country is an important asset, since you will eventually be working with more countries than you can count on your hands ...and feet!

5. Traveling will make you a better leader.

Through everything, you will also quickly grasp cultural impact in everything around you - something that will be vital when you become a leader in a multicultural environment. Since the global community is becoming a norm in most business models, and to have staff from different cultural backgrounds is inevitable, you need to be able to understand and manage every employee to keep them happy. I'm not saying you will become an expert after a 2-month trip to China, but you will gain important knowledge and an edge over your competition. 

Listen, traveling can be expensive. And I'll talk about that next week. But all I can say is, if you're a business student, and you've never left your backyard, you will have a tough time once the global marketplace comes knocking on your door. So get out there, forget your comfort zone, and become a better you - one country at a time!

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Pierre Babineau is an MBA graduate from Laval University. Currently working as an Industrial Marketing Advisor at FPInnovations, he has worked in Canada, USA, South Africa and India in various positions such as International Development Agent, Head of Trade Mission, Director of Internet Marketing and Independent Consultant.

You can reach Pierre Babineau on Twitter, LinkedIn or on his personal website.

Follow @pierrebab Tweet