Top 5 Ways to Motivate Employees
I am not going to lie to you… a raise is a very good thing. There is not one employee that would ever turn one down. That being said, you can have the most well paid employees who could still lack motivation. Most people would say it is the employee’s fault. But most likely a lack of motivation stems from the top.
Cash is not always the answer and employee motivation does not always need a bundle of money thrown at it. If you are an employer/manager and you are looking for ideas for motivating the people under, you read on.
1. Recognizing that a “job well done” is important. Instead of a cash bonus, you would do well to consider giving something tangible. People like to have something to show off. It is merely human nature to brag. Giving a gift that can be talked about for a long time and also be pointed to on the mantle goes a long way in the bid for increased morale.
2. Another alternative is the point award system. You can basically use the same structure as the cash system but give points for different achievements. You can set this up with various catalog retailers and when a certain number of points are reached the lucky employee can order from the catalog using their points.Go one further and cover the shipping this is sure to motivate others. There is nothing an employee likes more than getting something on the company’s dime.
3. You may need to overhaul your supervisory technique. If you are constantly extolling the same directions and not getting the desired results it could be the problem lies with your method.
4. Look at the level of motivation you have currently rated as the best. If it could be better the set the scale higher. If employees know they only have to give so much that is all they are likely to give. You get what you dare to ask for.
5. Give the reigns to the employees. Teach them how to motivate themselves and others. This is also an investment into the future of the company. They become better leaders and learn how to better manage their time at work. Let them get involved in creating the tracking system and in making sure the daily achievements are listed there.
When an employer is constantly hovering and commenting on non-critical issues this can become a great source of the very “lack of motivation” you are trying to improve. If it isn’t going to make or break the shift let it go. Be as quick with praise as you are with criticism and be sincere. We all know when someone is saying things to us just because it sounds good.
Get your employees motivated and you will find that your workplace will run smoother. A properly motivated workforce can make being at work a joy.
Pat Lindle is a small business coach and consultant, specializing in performance management. In addition, in his spare time Pat works with the wine broker industry to facilitate the early adoption of wine enthusiasts looking to buy wine online via various e-commerce platforms. Pat enjoys skiing in Telluride, CO and Scuba Diving in Maui.