9 tips for motivating your lazy coworkers at work

9 tips for motivating your lazy coworkers at work9 tips for motivating your lazy coworkers at workThere is nothing worse than showing up to work every day and giving it your all, when it seems like the rest of your team is just there to take up space and rake in a paycheck. It can throw your whole day off and make it harder to get your job done, especially if managers or team leaders arent stepping up to help motivate their team. If a lazy coworker is dragging your team down, here are some tips and tricks to help you motivate them - even if they dont realize youre doing it.Ask, Dont OrderIf you dont have the title manager after your name, ordering other employees to get to work isnt going to get anything done - and will probably earn you a few enemies in the process. Youll have to be a bit sneaky here. Instead of ordering your coworkers around,try asking. Ask them for help with your project, or ask to help them with whatever theyre working on. It might not always work, but sometime s all a lazy coworker needs is a gentle push in the right direction to get them working again.Be ThoughtfulA thoughtful gesture never hurts anyone. Caffeine might not encourage your coworker to work faster, but a grabbing someone a snack or a coffee can earn you some goodwill and might make them more likely to get to work if you ask nicely.Something for NothingEver heard of a little thing called quid pro quo? You dont expect to get something for nothing when you go to the store, would you? Why would you expect your coworkers to do something for you without getting something in return? Offer to do something for your lazy coworker in exchange for something you need done. The more unsavory the task you offer to do - like taking out the trash or cleaning the bathrooms - the better the response will be.CommunicateIf youve got a huge quota or a massive to-do list, communicating with your coworkers can be something that gets neglected. Forming professional relationships and networking ca n be a useful tool, but its something you have to take time to nurture. Send an email, text, private message or even handwritten note tosee how your coworkersor deskmates are doing and if they need any help. You might learn something new or find something they are stuck on that you can help with.Be PositivePositive reinforcement isnt just useful for teaching children or training pets. It can also be a vital tool for encouraging lazy coworkers to get their jobs done. Everyone loves to be appreciated for their work, and offering positive feedback when your coworkers do something right might be the one thing you need to encourage them to pick up the slack.No TattlingNo one likes a tattletale - we arent five anymore Tattling to your boss that your coworker isnt doing their job will cause resentment and can make you look bad, too.Instead, if you have to take this harte nuss up the chain of command, make sure you phrase it properly. Dont just jump to the problem of the lazy coworker. Inst ead, explain that youre having trouble finishing team projects because one individual isnt pulling their weight. If they ask for a review, be honest but dont start out picking apart your coworkers work ethic out of the gate.Lay Off the Water CoolerGossip is a big part of the workplace, no matter how hard you try to keep it from spreading. People love to talk, and they love to talk about each other. If you want to encourage your coworkers to stop being lazy, one of the first things you should do is to lay off the water cooler gossip. Dont talk about them behind their back.Step UpSometimes, all you need to encourage a lazy coworker is a good leader. If you dont have a team leader or someone to take charge, it might be up to you to do just that. Even if you dont have the title you need to be an official leader, you can still step up.You need to thinkoutside the box a little and ask instead of giving orders. People will naturally start to follow a good leader, but you need to work insid e the hierarchy to get things done.Protect YourselfA lazy coworker isnt just annoying. If theyre slacking and your work is suffering as a result, it could put your job in jeopardy too. Dont let them affect your progress or distract you from getting your work done, and if it harms team projects, its important to keep the blame from falling on you. You dont need to take the fall for someone elses poor work ethic.No one likes to deal with lazy coworkers, but you will run across them in nearly every industry. Gentle motivation and positive reinforcement can be great tools to help you keep them moving, but if it isnt enough, you may have to break out the big guns. That means taking it up the chain of command. Its not the perfect solution, but it can help keep things moving.For more ideas to help you deal with lazy coworkers - or if youve got some ideas youd like to add - comment below orclick here to subscribe.This article welches originally published on Punched Clocks.