It can be difficult to maintain a positive atmosphere in an office, especially in times of heightened stress. The past two years have definitely posed a challenge in that regard, and many employers find themselves dealing with employees who are under tremendous stress. We’re gonna be exploring the best employee motivation techniques. Read on!
Getting staff motivated is a challenge, but it can be done. We’ve put together a list of nine ideas about how to fire up your employees and turn your office into a more positive space in these uncertain times.
Let’s uncover the top employee motivation techniques to keep passion and positivity within the workplace.
1. Offer personal and professional enrichment opportunities
Working a 40-hour week can become monotonous, which inevitably leads to employees losing motivation and disengaging. Statistics show that in recent years, more than a third of staff members in the US are either actively or casually looking for a different position – a big red flag that warns of disinterested and demotivated workers.
Offering employees opportunities to grow professionally and personally can get them interested. It can also make them more proactive in the way they approach work. Studies have suggested that there is a rough 50/50 split between those who consider their occupation a career and those who see it only as a job.
Giving people the chance to develop and advance can make all the difference in this situation. Similarly, it allows more employees to feel like they are following a career path rather than just passing time until retirement.
2. Set reasonable goals in collaboration with employees
Setting feasible goals is one of the important employee motivation techniques. Working towards a goal gets people motivated. Whether they’re trying to save money, get into an exercise routine, or move forward in their careers. An employee with nothing to work towards can more easily become bored. Looking at the statistics it’s clear that loss of motivation goes hand-in-hand with a stagnant work environment. About a third of workers quit their jobs because of boredom.
Breaking longer projects down into manageable segments can prevent people from becoming overwhelmed, as well as increase their focus and productivity. Working towards a clear target is easier than constant uncertainty. Keeping track of tasks and setting reasonable deadlines gives staff members stability and structure that facilitates productivity. You can also implement group exercises to improve teamwork
Bear in mind, though, that this should be done in collaboration with employees rather than being imposed upon them. Employees who feel that they’re trusted are more likely to engage with their work and colleagues.
3. Offer the right kind of incentives
Incentives are no doubt one of the best employee motivation techniques. Using the carrot and stick approach is no longer the most effective way of running a business. Some companies have started to move away from the rigid “punishment and reward” model of leadership and towards a more positive system: i.e.: to use more carrots than sticks.
Material rewards like financial bonuses are great, but they are not the only way of incentivizing workers. Some business leaders have taken the approach of tailoring incentives to different individuals’ needs or wants. This doesn’t mean you have to get to know every employee intimately – just be mindful of the fact that monetary bonuses aren’t always the answer.
Rewarding excellent work can also take the form of free training workshops, flexible working hours, extra time off, and more autonomy. In the case of giving extra time off, managers could use tools for tracking employee time-off requests which will definitely make this process a lot easier.
4. Communicate with employees
Communication is fundamental in keeping a business running smoothly (or simply running at all). Yes, it is another great employee motivation tip. The division between owners, managers, and employees can be a source of dissatisfaction and frustration for workers, especially when they feel like they’re being undervalued. When workers lose motivation the logical next step is to ask them why – and listen to their feedback.
Getting your employees engaged and motivated is made easier when they feel able to raise concerns and communicate their needs in the workplace. The feeling of being heard boosts morale and enhances job satisfaction, and drives productivity.
Someone who is disillusioned in their job puts in less effort, especially if they feel unheard. Showing employees you value their feedback always results in a workforce that’s happier and more productive.
5. Encourage a healthy work-life balance
Many people work in order to pay rent and provide for themselves, and their families. Enjoying your job or following your ideal career path may not be an opportunity afforded to everyone, which is why businesses need to pay attention to the bigger picture in terms of job satisfaction, and the relationship between life at work and life at home.
Research has shown that some of the jobs with the least satisfaction include working as a parking lot attendant, as a clerk, and working in a fast-food restaurant. For these workers, at least some of their dissatisfaction stems from not being able to live comfortably on their salaries.
Add in the exhaustion from being on your feet all day, and employees may feel that it takes all they have to make it through a work week, let alone years at a job. Helping your staff members manage their work-life balance can make all the difference, no matter what industry you’re in.
Achieving this could include things like offering decent vacation time, considering the option of flexible working hours, and being mindful of employees’ personal situations. For example, when a single parent is faced with having to stay home to care for a sick child, having a supportive employer is a huge relief. Employees who feel heard in this way are more motivated and more likely to feel a sense of loyalty.
6. Offer good benefits
Getting rewarded for working efficiently is a huge motivator for most people. Even more effective, however, is feeling safe and secure in a job that takes care of your needs. Knowing that you have comprehensive health insurance alone boosts employees’ motivation to work. However, if you as an employer want to take things up a notch, there are many perks that can further encourage employees to perform well.
People like to know where they stand with finances, and a company that offers a good retirement savings plan is very attractive to many in the job market.
Looking beyond monetary benefits, there are lots of ways to take care of staff. Over the past two years, the world has changed dramatically, with many businesses moving towards remote work. Being open to discussing details like these with employees can send a positive signal. They feel that you’re putting in an effort to meet their needs.
Likewise, being willing to consider flexible working hours allows employees to maintain a sense of autonomy.
7. Make the office a good place to be
Keeping an employee happy at work definitely contributes towards motivation and a good work ethic. A pleasant environment requires a number of ingredients, including a great office space layout and positive relationships between colleagues and management.
A few extras, such as a nice eating area or cafeteria, a space in the office to relax and recharge, or opportunities to socialize with colleagues, are often appreciated by staff and result in better office culture and increased motivation.
When it comes to team-building events and other social activities, it’s advisable to make them voluntary rather than compulsory. When an employer tells workers that they have to attend a company picnic, for example, that picnic may feel a bit like a work obligation.
Think about setting a few hours aside once or twice a month when employees can enjoy some casual socializing without it cutting into home time.
8. Use profit sharing to motivate staff
In the past, many workers would not have been able to share in their employers’ profits in a direct financial sense. Over the past few years, however, individuals employed by a business have sometimes been given the opportunity to receive the benefits of its growth – a practice known as profit sharing.
Getting employees motivated using this practice can be highly effective. Setting performance goals, for example, can get people to work harder and smarter. Pairing these goals with a financial reward – a profit-sharing system – can drastically increase drive.
If an employee makes the same salary year after year (with minor increases in line with general inflation), it won’t be long until their enthusiasm wanes. If the company employing them continues to grow in size and value, employees want to see their financial incentives grow too.
9. Show appreciation
Saying “good job” to an employee isn’t enough to get them motivated. But when it’s part of a culture of appreciation and positivity it can encourage staff members to feel proud of their work, and therefore feel more excited to engage in it.
Even if someone doesn’t enjoy their work, the reassurance that they’re noticed and valued can inspire improved performance.
Improved Morale Leads To Improved Performance
There are many more ways to inspire employees to perform better, but these nine tips are a great place to start. Dealing with a lack of motivation is one of the biggest challenges business owners and managers face.
There is no quick fix, unfortunately. However, implementing a variety of tools can transform an uninspired team into a group of driven individuals. They become motivated and excited to grow both personally and professionally.
Keeping skilled employees may always be somewhat of a challenge. But, becoming cognizant of company culture makes it easier to recognize issues. It also helps to address them swiftly and effectively. we hope you practice the employee motivation techniques we have discussed in this article. Good luck!