Motivated employees make for a happy workforce and a happy workforce increases productivity. When employees are motivated, they enjoy the work that they do and are committed to the company they work for; ultimately improving employee retention. Managers play an important role in motivating their workforce; yet, they sometimes overlook this critical area, due to the assumption that it involves costly training or team building projects. However, motivating a workforce can be as simple as adjusting the current managerial strategies. Below are 5 of the simplest strategies managers can implement in order to excite and inspire their employees.
Value the Individual worker
A Manager’s focus is often placed on how well their team works together; however, valuing and attending to each individual worker is equally as important. Managers should invest time and effort to get to know each worker’s individual strengths, and help to support them in achieving their individual goals.
When a worker feels valued, they will be more motivated to work well, often exceeding their employer’s expectations. Managers can show their appreciation for t their employees by rewarding their professional accomplishments and individual contributions to group projects. Many companies have recognized the importance of attending to their employees on a more personal level , leading managers to celebrate employee’s personal milestones such as number of years at the company. Each employee values different aspects of their work-life and managers must use a personalized management style and take the time to understand what motivates each employee.
Regular Feedback
Feedback is an important technique used for shaping the desired behavior of the workforce. It can be used to identify the areas in which a team has performed well, as well as the areas which need improvement. One of the quickest ways to de-motivate a highly productive team is to stop providing feedback once the team is performing well. Once feedback stops, there is little incentive for teams to maintain their high level of productivity. Instead, managers should ensure they continue to provide regular and specific feedback for well working teams to provide continuous motivation for their workers.
Creative and Interesting Workplace
Workers can love the work they do and the company that they work for, but with time and mastery of any skill, the danger of boredom can emerge. Managers must work hard to ensure their employees are always challenged to improve their skills, are provided with opportunities for learning new skills, and are asked to take part in new projects. This strategy creates an interesting and creative workplace, and it is this variability which helps to maintain an employee’s interest and motivation.
Advancement and Incentives
Employees may love the role they are currently working in, but over time most workers want the opportunity to grow and advance within their career. Without opportunities for advancement, employees may feel stagnated, unmotivated, and consider looking for opportunities in other companies. Companies should be certain that they support their workers’ long-term goals and provide opportunities for employees to learn the skills they need to advance within the company. Managers can also implement incentive strategies to promote employees’ interest and motivation in daily work projects. Incentives and rewards for good work can include offering extra paid time off, and low cost incentives such as gift baskets or small cash gift cards.
Encourage creativity and Invite Feedback
A team which is productive and working well together is one which has mastered the best techniques to use in their daily work. It can be easy for managers to wish to maintain the status quo. However, this can run the risk of boredom within the team. Instead, managers who invite feedback and encourage their employees to be creative and suggest new ways of working is a great way to keep employees interested and motivated in their work.
Although these strategies are simple and easy to implement, even for companies with a limited budget, the effects on team morale can be great. With time, managers may also see reduced absenteeism and increased productivity.
