MOTIVATION TECHNIQUES IN THE WORKPLACE

As an employer, if you want to get the best result and performance from your employee’s then it’s important to keep them motivated.

Recent research shows that employees work 20% better when motivated. This means that a company’s treatment of its employees can positively affect its result and productivity.

In this post, we will look at 6 motivation techniques for the workplace 

1. Offer rewards

It is important to reward and celebrate hard work among your employees. Recognising employees achievements on a regular basis is an effective way of motivating them. When an employee performs an excellent task celebrate him publicly, it will not just encourage him but also his colleagues. They will as well long to be celebrated publicly, this would motivate them to perform a great job.

Also, let every team member know exactly how much each of them contributed to helping the company move forward. Focusing on what your team does right rather than what they do wrong helps motivate them.

Consider non-monetary awards such as public acknowledgement, increased responsibility, status, titles, workspace etc. it is important to praise your employees publicly and discipline them in private.

2. Encourage growth

More than half (57%) of employees surveyed by Randstad say they need to leave their current companies in order to take their careers to the next level. This means that a lack of growth in an organisation can lead to a lack of motivation for its employees. 

Investing in your employee’s development also mean investing in your business. The more developed your employees are the more quality job you would get from them. When you take your employees growth seriously, you are indirectly telling them that you value them as much as you value results. This would go a long way to motivate them.  

Encourage your employees personal and professional growth. You can do that by offering tuition reimbursement or sending them to workshops and seminars that can help improve their skills. You can as well suggest books, articles they can read to eliminate weaknesses and help them discover their strengths.

3. Set goals

Identify the goals you want your team to achieve. Break them down into measurable and achievable goals. This is an effective way to help team members stay motivated when working on a project.

For example, if your team has been tasked with publicising the company’s product on various platforms, you should encourage them to set smaller goals such as designing creatives, creating content, designing marketing strategy on how to publicise, if it’s going to be on a daily or weekly basis. 

Breaking down the larger goal into smaller tasks help bring your team members closer to achieving the main goal. The progress can be easily measured because the goal has been broken down into smaller tasks and it would be easier to know who among the team members is putting in effort and who is not. 

4. Prioritise work-life balance

Prioritising work-life balance in the work environment is an effective way to motivate your employees. It can help reduce stress and increase productivity.

A survey from Randstad in 2018 suggests that a lot of employees leave their jobs because they seek a healthier work-life balance. 36% of respondents said they are planning on leaving their current job because they are not allowed to work remotely.  Nearly half of the respondents express their interest in joining the gig economy so they can have better flexibility.  

Employees value a work environment that gives them the opportunity to manage their time. A very effective way of motivating your employees is to focus on productivity rather than working hours. A flexible working schedule can help your employees feel less stressed and be more productive. 

5. Emphasise employee wellness

Encourage employees to ease stress by taking vacations during holidays or break during the workday, this can be a lunch break or a walk to an eatery. This can help reduce care costs and also boost the morale and mental well-being of your employees

You can provide employee assistance programs for managing stress, anxiety and other challenging issues. For example, You might consider offering yoga or meditation classes over a lunch break or encourage your team to participate in these activities when they feel stuck about the direction of a project or need to take a short break.

Successful organisations like Google, Microsoft Intuit etc. have wellness programs in place for their employees. As an employer, it’s important for your employees to have wellness programs in place because it will help them stay healthy, stress-free and be more productive.

6. Empower your team

Involving your employees in goal setting shows them that you care about their opinion and value their input. As an employer, you may not be specialised in every area, you can get suggestions from your employee who specialises in that area. 

Encourage your team members to try new ideas, offer their input at team meetings, and take risks when the situation allows for it. Try taking action when they offer their input on a particular subject. This will show your employees that you truly value their opinion. It will also go a long way to motivate them to give in their best to perform their tasks. 

The value of having a motivated workforce cannot be overlooked as the success of any business or organisation is attached to it.