Dear Entrepreneur, Here Are 10 Simple Ways To Motivate Your Employees

By Getrude Mathayo / Published January 13, 2023 | 3:56 pm

KEY POINTS

Your employees want a challenge, it’s human nature. If they show up daily with the same menial tasks to work on with no goal, it’s easy to become unmotivated.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Growth is central to employee motivation. Nobody wants to work a dead-end job with no prospect of advancement, and that's why training your team is so important.

Motivation is different for everyone but the urge to advance is almost universal, we all want to get better at what we do and learn the skills we need to get where we want to be

Motivation is what drives employees to be fully engaged in their work and inspired to achieve results. When employees are motivated, they’re more likely to come to work happy, be ready to tackle new challenges and give their best effort.

That level of engagement and energy will lead to higher productivity and a desire to find more creative solutions to your toughest problems.

Motivated employees are key to the success of your company. Not only can finding ways to motivate employees to improve productivity and efficiency, but it can also create a more positive and engaging work environment.

As much as people don’t want to admit it, there are many unmotivated employees in this world. Whether they aren’t driven to do their best or simply have no motivation to move up in the company, this can be a tricky situation for a manager.

Every boss struggles to keep employees motivated from time to time, but great managers know that employee motivation is key to overall success. While there is no single way to ensure that your employees will stay engaged and inspired, there are a few specific and effective techniques that, when implemented, can have major, lasting effects on workplace motivation and productivity.

Part of motivating your team is a balance of one-on-one leadership, building trust, and supporting your employees’ personal and professional goals.

Set goals and recognize success

Your employees want a challenge, it’s human nature. If they show up daily with the same menial tasks to work on with no goal, it’s easy to become unmotivated. Setting achievable goals for your employees allows them to work towards something concrete and will also give you, as a manager, something to measure their performance against.

Pay them well and on time

To keep your top employees, you will have to pay them a competitive salary. This might be easier said than done in some organizations, but ensure you’re not skimping on salary. If their performance merits a raise, give them one, this will let them know they are valued and appreciated. If you can’t afford competitive salaries or raises, consider performance-based bonuses for individual employees or teams.

Be respectful, honest, and supportive

This may seem like a no-brainer, but bad management is one of the top reasons employees run for the hills. Things like respect, honesty, support, and clear communication are the foundations here. But there’s a lot more you can do to be a great leader and mentor.

Make your business a pleasant place to be

A dull office is highly unlikely to inspire your staff to give their very best. Try to create a warm, welcoming environment where people want to work. Building this kind of atmosphere is dual you need a physical space that is appealing, comfortable, and favorable to work, and a working relationship with your team that promotes voluntary excellence.

Be transparent

Transparency in the workplace helps employees feel like an important part of the organization. Provide your team with a roadmap that illustrates the company’s vision for business growth over the coming weeks, months, and years.

Celebrate results/ Offer employee rewards

Part of what makes setting small and measurable goals so important is that it provides plenty of opportunities to celebrate your team’s hard work. People will stay with your business if they have a reason to. So, if you want to keep your employees motivated, it’s worth starting an incentive program.

Give them room to grow

If your business is rapidly expanding, giving your employees room to grow within the company is a huge motivator. When you give your best employees growth opportunities, it shifts their thinking.

Invest in Training

Growth is central to employee motivation. Nobody wants to work a dead-end job with no prospect of advancement, and that’s why training your team is so important. Motivation is different for everyone but the urge to advance is almost universal, we all want to get better at what we do and learn the skills we need to get where we want to be.

Offer time off

When you work for a company, you probably know that taking time off is good for your health and well-being. Employees who take regular time off are less stressed, less likely to burn out, and better equipped to find solutions when problems arise.

Be Someone You Would Want to Work For

Whether it’s unrealistic expectations, constant crabbiness, or unapproachability, almost all of us have had that one boss who made work a living nightmare. Even if you love what you do, having a miserable boss can spoil a dream job in record time. This is why being someone you’d want to work for is essential to keeping your staff motivated.