How to Motivate Employees

Managers are responsible for getting the absolute very best out of their teams, motivating them to want to be better than they were the day before. Financial incentives are commonly the first thing that employees point towards as a source of motivation, but constantly offering bonuses is neither a sustainable nor a practical solution.

Staff motivation is a key concern for managers of all levels as, quite simply, an unmotivated team is an unproductive one – and that means missed targets and commercial loss. That, naturally, leaves some rather uncomfortable questions requiring answers, so avoiding such circumstances is preferable.

Unlike the movies, it takes a lot more than a rousing speech to motivate employees, especially if long-standing issues have been allowed to fester over time. This may mean that a complete culture change is necessary to address the situation. Alternatively, you may be addressing the issue early doors before it begins to take a stranglehold on the department – in which case, a quick fix could be enough.

What Motivates Employees?

A sense of belonging and responsibility is what motivates employees. Staff want to wake up in the morning and look forward to going to work, not dread it. You can throw all the financial incentives that you want at your staff, but it serves only to paper over the cracks that are the real issues.

Working as part of a team that communicates well, have each other’s back and can smile throughout the day are the makings of a well-oiled machine. When employees enjoy being at work and working for their employer, they are motivated to give their absolute best for the company.

So, how do you achieve such a dynamic?

It is important to recognise your employees. It is human nature to want to be recognised, which includes getting a pat on the back for a job well done. Many managers make the fatal mistake of not recognising when their employees have done a good job, believing that there is no requirement for saying ‘well done’ for doing their job. That is true, to a point, but if the only time that a member of staff receives feedback comes with negative undertones, then this serves as a demotivator, whilst also ensuring your employees are nervous when they hear from management.

There are different ways of recognising your staff and choosing the correct means of doing so is a judgement call. Sometimes a simple ‘good job’ or ‘great idea’ will suffice, while other times call for something a little bit more. This could be a publicised note in a meeting or company email, a keepsake with a personalised message or another gesture that truly shows how valued they are.

Some key statistics relating to the need for recognising your employees include:

  • 90% of voluntary resignations within a business are because team members feel under-appreciated by their managers or by the business as a whole
  • On average, key staff members within a business cost around 150% of their quarterly salary to replace them
  •  Companies that start recognition awards and recognition programs within the workplace experience a 50% lower turnover rate on their staff
  • Just 30% of staff members will improve their performance after being criticised, whereas 90% of staff members will improve their performance after being praised or recognised

How to Award Staff in the Workplace

Company awards do make for a great source of motivation, as long as they are handled correctly. Don’t reward the basics like turning up for work – have awards that need to be worked for, that need to be won and not just awarded by default.

It is also important not to have any awards that come down to chance, such as drawing names out of a hat. If an employee is presented with an award, they are being recognised for the effort they have put in to deserve it, not because they were fortuitous.

Think about what is important to your staff – what do they value? It might not always be money, instead, it may be a Saturday off, a meal for two at a local restaurant or cream cakes on the lunch break. Providing an additional gift or incentive alongside a glass award or trophy can be a nice way to make the receiver feel extra special.

When it’s time to announce the award winner, don’t just slide the award quietly across the table – make a big deal of it! Recognition by peers means so much to your workforce.

How to Improve Employee Morale and Motivation

Morale and motivation go together. Demotivated employees suffer from low morale and, when this happens, it usually isn’t too long until staff turnover rates increase and profits drop.

Bringing in staff rewards and other motivators may only be curing a symptom rather than the cause itself. Again, we go back to the point that employees should look forward to going to work. When you consider that members of staff see more of their colleagues than their own family, they must be allowed to thrive in the workplace environment.

While it is human nature to want to be recognised for a job well done, the same is true for wanting a challenge. Often, employees with low morale and a lack of motivation stemming from the fact that they no longer feel challenged in their role and/or feel as though they hit a glass ceiling. If this is the case, then it is up to management to consider what the best course of action is.

Regular staff reviews, discussing their job role and responsibilities and aspirations make up a big part of this. So often, employees feel disillusioned with their role because they don’t feel as though their employer cares which comes through a lack of communication. Furthermore, regular reviews also present ample opportunity to uncover skills and discuss where they want to go that can put the wheels in motion for a fresh challenge within the company – therefore not potentially losing a valuable member of staff to a competitor.

The Journey

You will no doubt have heard someone in a managerial position talk about the journey that everyone is taking at some point. They aren’t wrong, although their delivery may not have been as captivating as you would have liked. The trick is to ensure that everyone buys into that journey.

Working towards a collective goal is the journey and when everyone is on the same page, the team works more cohesively together. Giving each member responsibility confirms their importance to the team, motivating them to do the very best that they can as it is their name attached to it.

Motivating employees is much more than just offering throwaway gestures with no real substance. It is a process that involves serious thought and leadership. Recognising talent and hard work through opportunity and recognition, perhaps through awards and keepsakes, is the best way to motivate your employees.

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