119: How to motivate + empower remote workers – with Dr. Paul White

Q: what is the best way to motivate and empower your remote workers? No matter if you’re new to managing your team remotely or have been doing it for ages, well before COVID-19, we’ve all been flung into a new way of working.

My special guest today is author Dr Paul White and he’s simplifying how to motivate and empower remote workers, tapping into new research his team has collected over the last two months during the pandemic lockdown.

It’s fascinating, new insight and the millions of new remote workers are unlike any people who chose to work remotely in the past. They’ve gathered real-world stories and data on remote worker’s concerns, frustrations and ultimately, positive lessons learned during lockdown. Here’s the inside scoop of what they want and (actually) need from you, their manager, in order to thrive.

My special guest today is Dr. Paul White and he’s simplifying how to motivate + empower remote workers.

We tackle all aspects of it, including:

• What a few of the common obstacles are that managers tend to create with their teams and how to overcome them
• How he describes a “vibrant workplace” and what the new research has uncovered when it comes to remote workers who haven’t stepped foot inside the office space in months
• What the inter-relationship is between recognition, appreciation, and performance when motivating your remote workers and how to improve antiquated employee recognition programs at larger firms, especially now
• How to neutralize negativity and conflict with team members, finding the root cause of it all
• …and ultimately, how to work with someone who you actually DON’T appreciate at all… do you fire them and start again? Or do go deeper and press on?

Dr Paul White was on the podcast previously (episode 056) simplifying how to apply the 5 Love Languages in the workplace. He and Dr. Gary Chapman are a wealth of knowledge in helping get to the heart of people… and I’m thrilled to have him back to share more.

Q: Are you trying to figure out how to motivate + empower your remote workers through a pandemic? If yes, this one is for you.

It’s time to #DoTheThing!

<What’s helping today with COVID-19>

• Your suffering is a holy event – Grace for Impact – by Danielle LaPorte
• Total strangers who look like twins – remembering we are all One
• The Happy Newspaper – a newspaper to celebrate all that’s good in the world – by Emily Coxhead
• Mary is offering 50-minute 1-1 brainstorming sessions for those looking for ideas on how to pivot their businesses

Links, books and apps mentioned:

Book: The Vibrant Workplace: Overcoming the Obstacles to Building a Culture of Appreciation – Dr. Paul White

Resource: Zoom Exhaustion is Real – 6 ways to find balance and stay connected

Book: Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years & The War Years (Six Volume Set) – Carl Sandberg

Podcast: How to structure your 5-hour workday, featuring Trevor Blake  – The Simplifiers Podcast

Podcast: How to squash your limiting self-beliefs – The Simplifiers Podcast

About Dr. Paul White

Dr. Paul White, PhD – He is a psychologist, speaker, consultant and author whose passion is ‘making work relationships work.’

For over 20 years, he has assisted businesses, government agencies, schools and non-profit agencies to:

• Improve staff morale and create positive work environments
• Learn how to communicate individualized, authentic appreciation among team members
• Reduce the sarcasm, cynicism, and negativity associated with toxic work environments, and
• Build positive work cultures by discovering how to overcome the most common obstacles faced