sometimes it's better to let go...

when your work is what you love...

Personally I'm someone who can't work for 100 percent, it's impossible for me. Why? Because I always giving even more, I just really like what I'm doing. I always looking for new, better solution, I must improve my skills, increase my knowledge etc. It's just stronger than me.

And, as I notice, in IT this is common approach. We, developers, managers, designers, love what we are doing, this is our passion, this is not only 8 hours work, this is something more. We love challenges, we love problems, bugs, because these are the things, which gives us opportunity to test ourselves, to verify our skills and learn something new.
This attitude continues until we're motivated. And here comes the problem...

But, I won't write today, how to motivate team or anyone else. Rather about how not de-motivate them.

it's your fault!

There is no problem to say to anyone that is his/her fault. There is only one condition - it must be really his/her fault and you need to be sure of it. Of course, you shouldn't tell it public, but rather on one-to-one meeting.

Second thing, you should tell it quietly, don't yell at someone. Explain what was the problem and how situation like this can be avoided in future.

you're responsible for...

Everyone is responsible for his behaviour, for his actions and words and that's obvious.
There is nothing to discuss.

But, it's completely different situation when something wasn't done and brought negative effects. Who is responsible for that? Person, who was obligated to do this. Easy isn't it?
But before blaming, are you sure that particular person knows, that it was his responsibility? Is this in company's regulations?

you can do better/more...

I can assume that everything can be done better or faster, I strongly believe it and that's why I always looking for improvements, but...
Yeah, there is a "but". If someone do good work, he is better and faster than any other team member, he should rather heard few nice words instead something like in the paragraph title.
Is he can work better and faster? Yes, but it should be expressed in the form of motivation, rather than reproach.

you can work harder

Of course he can, but is this really a point?
If he will work more than his strenght will let him, he will be tired all the time, he won't be effective. Instead of increase his productivity, it will decrease.

The solution is not to work harder or more, solution is to find a way to increase the productivity. Trainings? Courses? Maybe that will help.

motivate and don't de-motivate

Motivation is important to makes employees happy, but it's also important to not de-motivate them. If something is going really well, why change it? Yeah, improvements are great, but you won't improve anything if you will de-motivate. People lose their attitude, their desire to work, their effectiveness and one day, when they finally couldn't stand - they will just let go... and finally, you will lose them.