If you want your business to succeed, you need everyone to pull together – and that means motivation. We reveal the insider tips that can help you keep yourself and your employees motivated and ready for anything.
It's a false theory that people are motivated by money. Where employers would once reward hard working staff with hefty bonus packets, managers are now rewarding staff with flexible incentives to help retain them and keep them motivated and productive.
Communication is key
Getting to know your workforce is an important part of keeping them motivated so finding out how they spend their time away from work can be the key to finding out what really makes them tick.
Founder of Newcastle-based consultancy group Making a Difference, Jayne Goldstone, believes that finding out what really motivates your staff shouldn’t be difficult. “Find out what’s going on in the outside world for your staff,” she explains.
“It’s about who people are, not what they are, so find out what motivates them and what they do outside work so they become a person and not a number.”
From extra holiday to flexible working hours, staff motivation isn't a 'one size fits all' approach and should not only focus on keeping your employees happy but also boosting productivity. There should be a clear distinction between employees getting what they want and making sure they get what delivers the best results for the business.
“Investing in personal development and training for your team whenever possible is a great motivational tool,” explains Jayne. “It not only helps them to reach their full potential but your company will also benefit from this investment in the long-term.”
Turning the tables
In tough times, even the best in the business will have periods when they feel like it's all getting on top of them. But it's not just your employees who can lose motivation when the chips are down, sometimes motivating yourself can be just as difficult.
In most cases the atmosphere surrounding a well-motivated team is contagious. Finding new ways to inspire those around you, and watching them break targets should make you want to participate. But, as Jayne suggests, investing in personal development is just as important as that of your team.
“Managers shouldn’t feel left out of motivation plans,” she says. “Personal investment is a great way of challenging yourself to be the best you can for you and your team. How do you know what you are capable of until you explore your full potential?”
For smaller businesses a simple ‘thank you’ for a job well done is all that is necessary. However, increasingly finding new ways to motivate your workforce not only makes them feel better about themselves and the environment in which they work, but also you will see the benefits through increased productivity and better staff retention.
Five ways to motivate you and your workforce
- Communicate with your staff. Use appraisals to manage each individual's performance and share company information as much as possible.
- Use staff incentive schemes. Staff bonuses may work well for some employees, however most would benefit from a different type of incentive such as extra holiday or team away days.
- Have a clear mission statement. Everyone feels the benefit of working for a company that has a common culture. Shared values and goals are often underestimated.
- Get to know your employees. Finding out what people like to do when they are out of the office will give you a greater insight into discovering what really motivates them.
- Offer staff training and development. Invest in personal development and training for your team whenever possible. Investing time in your employees' future will make them feel valued whilst also furthering their career prospects.
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