Every manager struggles to keep employees motivated from time to time, but great managers know that employee motivation is key to overall success. Remember that a happy team of employees leads to a profitable company. But employee happiness is not something that just takes care of itself. It is a piece of your company culture you must actively work toward from the top down. So, it takes a healthy mix of leadership, incentives and empowerment to motivate your team. Here are some of the best ways to motivate your workers.
Lead by Example
The fact is, motivation starts from the top. If your employees see you walk to work whenever you feel like it and shirking from your responsibilities as a leader, it is going to be difficult for them to feel invested in their own jobs. So, lead by example. Get in the trenches during brainstorming sessions. Stay late with the sales team as they prepare for a big pitch. Confidently make the tough decisions required of you as a boss.
Show Them Your Trust
Motivate your employees by showing them you trust their instincts, and then empowering them to put said instincts to use. No one can do their best work when they feel like their boss is judging their every move. Give your managers space and freedom to manage. Encourage non-management team members to take on leadership roles in their departments.
Incentivize the Workplace
Providing incentives or rewards for completion of certain goals is a great way to get your staff to go above and beyond with their work. Making their jobs both gratifying and fun is a sure way to boost employee motivation.
Foster Open Communication
Having open communication with your staff is crucial to maintaining employee motivation. No one wants to work under a boss he feels uncomfortable approaching. Applying methods of establishing effective communication with your team will boost your staff’s motivation.
Have an Open-Door Policy
A staff member that is invested in her work will naturally have questions, comments, or concerns. Having an open-door policy and creating consistently accessible lines of communication will help your staff to know that their input matters. If having an open-door policy is unrealistic for you, you can dedicate some time during staff meetings for people to voice or write down their concerns for a group discussion.
Respect their work-life balance
Your staff members will be much happier if they feel comfortable asking for a day off to focus on self-care, or if they know you will understand if they have a family emergency. Overworked employees will not be motivated to produce quality results. Hence, respecting that your employees have a life outside of work is vital to boosting their motivation.
Accept Feedback
People want to feel heard, whether it is by customer service when they have a complaint or their boss when there is a problem at work. Be accessible to your employees rather than aloof. When they know they can approach you with feedback, your employees will feel motivated not only to speak their grievances, but to share new ideas and bring you solutions for improving the company.
Remember, at the end of the day, no employee is ever going to care as much about your business as you do. So, the best thing you can do is make their time spent at work as positive and fulfilling as possible,
My name is Chigozie Japhet. I am a content writer, and a brand strategist. I like writing, reading, researching and watching football, especially my team, Man United. i believe in working hard, and also in relaxation as all work without play, makes Chigozie a dull boy.
