Productively motivating employees is more than just getting them to work hard– it’s about finding the best way to get their worker’s brains fired up, too. While motivation strategies may vary from person to person, some generally hold true for all people. That being said, here are 14 ways you can motivate your employees.
Scheduling More One On One Time.
If you want to motivate your employees, one of the best things you can do is schedule more one-on-one time with them. This shows that you value their input and are willing to invest time in them.
When planning one on ones, be sure to allow enough time for each employee to share their thoughts and concerns. Make yourself available for drop-in visits or impromptu meetings so that employees feel comfortable coming to you with ideas or problems.
Encourage Teamwork
Leaders should encourage their employees to work together as a team. Employees who feel like they are working together towards a common goal are more likely to be motivated and productive. Additionally, Teamwork can help to build relationships between employees and create a positive work environment.
There are a few ways that leaders can encourage Teamwork:
- Encourage team building activities: activities that facilitate Teamwork can help employees to get to know each other and builds trust between team members.
- Create opportunities for cross-functional collaboration: this allows employees to learn from each other and develop new skills.
- Recognize and reward team accomplishments: this reinforces the importance of Teamwork and helps to motivate employees.
Establish Good Communication
It’s no secret that good communication is key to maintaining any relationship, personal or professional. The same goes for the relationship between a leader and their employees. To motivate and inspire employees, leaders need to be able to effectively communicate with them. Here are a few tips on how to do just that:
- Make sure you’re conveying the right message. It’s important that your employees understand what you’re trying to say and that your message is clear. Take the time to think about what you want to say and how you can best express it so your employees will understand.
- Be open and honest. Employees will appreciate your honesty, which will help build trust between you and them.
- Be accessible. Let your employees know that they can come to you with any questions or concerns they may have. Make yourself available as much as possible, so they feel comfortable coming to you with anything they need to discuss.
- Listen! One of the most important aspects of communication is listening. You need to be attentive when your employees are speaking so that you can truly understand their needs and wants. Only then will you be able to properly address them.
Ask What Employees Want
To know how best to motivate employees, leaders need to ask what kinds of motivation work best for them. What drives them? What makes them feel appreciated? Answers to these questions will differ from person to person, and it’s up to leaders to find out what works for each individual under their supervision.
Once leaders understand what motivates their employees, they can start creating an environment that supports and encourages those motivations. Suppose employees feel their efforts are appreciated, and their work is valuable. In that case, they’ll be more likely to stay motivated and engaged.
Show Your Appreciation
It’s been said that employees don’t leave companies. They leave managers. As a leader, it’s important to show appreciation for your employees’ hard work to keep them motivated.
There are many ways to show your appreciation, but here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Publicly recognize your employees’ achievements. This could be through an email blast, a company-wide announcement, or even just a shout-out in a team meeting.
- Write personal notes of thanks and drop them on your employees’ desks. A handwritten note goes a long way in showing that you appreciate someone’s hard work.
- Give small tokens of appreciation, such as gift cards or free coffee coupons. These gestures let your employees know that you’re thinking of them and appreciate all they do for the company.
- Take your team out for lunch or happy hour to celebrate their success. This is a great way to show appreciation and bond with your team simultaneously.
- Plan fun workplace activities to boost morale and show your employees how much you appreciate their efforts. Things like group outings, picnics, or themed days can make work feel more fun and enjoyable for everyone involved.
Believe In Them
The most important thing a leader can do to motivate their employees is to believe in them. Employees who feel like their leader believes in them are more likely to be motivated to do their best work. Leaders can show they believe in their employees by giving them opportunities to grow and succeed, offering encouragement, and being available for support.
Provide Specific Training And Goals
One of the most important things leaders can do when motivating employees is to provide specific training and goals. By giving employees a clear understanding of what is expected of them and what they need to do to meet those expectations, you can help them stay focused and motivated.
In addition, providing regular feedback on progress – both positive and constructive – can go a long way in helping employees feel like their efforts are being recognized and that they are on the right track. Finally, offering incentives for meeting or exceeding goals can be a powerful motivator for many employees.
Actively Involve Them
Leaders must realize that employees are individuals with unique needs and motivations. One size does not fit all when it comes to employee motivation. The key is actively involving employees in setting goals and creating action plans. By doing so, leaders can tap into each employee’s unique needs and motivations, resulting in a more engaged and productive workforce. Here are a few ways leaders can motivate their employees:
- Actively involve them in setting goals and creating action plans: Employees are more likely to be motivated if they feel they have a say in the goals and how they will be achieved. Leaders should solicit employees’ input and explain why certain goals are important. This will help engage employees and get buy-in for the goals.
- Communicate regularly: Employees need to know what is happening in the company and how their work fits into the bigger picture. Leaders should communicate openly and frequently with employees to keep them informed and engaged.
- Recognize their achievements: A little recognition goes a long way regarding employee motivation. Praise employees publicly when they do a great job or accomplish something significant. This will let them know that their efforts are appreciated and encourage them to keep up the good work.
- Offer development opportunities: Most people want to grow professionally and feel like they are progressing in their careers. Leaders can offer employees opportunities for growth.
Provide The Resources They Need
As a leader, it’s important to provide employees with the resources they need to succeed. This includes things like adequate staffing, adequate budget, the right tools and equipment, and access to training and development opportunities. By ensuring that your employees have what they need to do their jobs well, you’re setting them up for success and motivation.
Give Them Opportunities to Grow
People want to work for companies where they can grow and develop. As a leader, you must create opportunities for your employees to do this.
One way you can do this is by ensuring they have access to training and development opportunities. You could also give them opportunities to take on additional responsibilities within their role or be promoted. By sharing your employee’s opportunities to grow, you’re providing motivation for them to stay with the company.
Encourage Them to Be Innovative
Innovation is essential for any business to be successful. As a leader, you need to encourage your employees to be innovative in their thinking and approach to work. One way you can do this is by setting aside time for brainstorming sessions where employees can share their ideas.
You could also create an environment where employees feel comfortable taking risks and trying new things. By encouraging innovation, you’ll motivate your employees to stay with the company and continue being creative.
Praise And Compliment Them Often
Many leaders fall into the trap of thinking that their employees will be motivated solely by the prospect of earning a bonus or being promoted. However, studies have shown that workers are also highly motivated by feeling appreciated for the work they do on a day-to-day basis. As a leader, you can create a positive, motivating environment for your employees by praising and complimenting them often.
Make it a point to give your employees regular feedback, both in private and in public. Thank them when they do something well and offer constructive criticism when needed. Tell them that you value their contributions and are always looking for ways to help them improve.
In addition to verbal praise, try to show your appreciation in other ways. Write handwritten notes thanking employees for a job well done or give small gifts as a token of your thanks. These little gestures go a long way in making your employees feel appreciated and motivating them to do their best work for you.
Help Co-create Purposeful Work
As a leader, you can make work more purposeful for your employees. By assigning tasks that fit their skill set and interests, you can help them feel more motivated and engaged in their work. Here are some other ways you can create a more purposeful work environment for your team:
- Encourage employees to take on new challenges and stretch themselves professionally.
- Create opportunities for employees to give back to the community through volunteering or charity work.
- Make sure each employee clearly understands the company’s mission and how their work contributes to it.
- Encourage open communication and collaboration between team members.
- Encourage employees to take care of their physical and mental health so they can be their best selves at work.
Create And Deliver A Forward-looking Vision
It’s no secret that employees are more engaged and productive when they feel their work is purposeful. As a leader, it’s your job to help your team see how their individual efforts contribute to the company’s larger goals. One way to do this is by creating and delivering a forward-looking vision for the organization.
A compelling vision should be aspirational yet achievable and paint a picture of what the organization will look like in the future. To get started, ask yourself some questions: Where do you want the company to be in 5 or 10 years? What kind of impact do you want to make? What would success look like? Once you have a clear idea of where you’re going, it’s time to start sharing it with your team.
Think about the best way to communicate your vision to different employees. For example, you might share it verbally at team meetings, write it down in an internal newsletter, or post it on the company intranet. No matter how you deliver it, ensure your vision is clear, concise, and inspiring.
