Having motivated employees is one of the most valuable assets a business can have. When employees are motivated, they are excited to come to work everyday and accomplish goals. It is especially necessary to know how to motivate employees as a manager, as it can have a direct impact on your organization’s success. Motivated employees are more likely to increase productivity and profitability organization-wide. They are also more likely to remain at their job, reducing turnover rates. According to a study by Gallup, only 15% of employees worldwide are motivated at work. Here are some effective (and fun) ways to motivate your employees.
1. Create a company culture of recognition and appreciation
No one wants to work somewhere they don’t feel appreciated. It is extremely important for employees to be recognized for their hard work and for their contribution to your company’s success. When employees feel appreciated within their organization, they are more likely to produce higher quality work.
2. Celebrate milestones
Whether it’s a big project completion or business goal achievement, celebrating milestones are crucial to workplace motivation. It is hugely important to not only celebrate the success of your organization as a whole, but to recognize the individual contributions of each employee. This is another way to ensure that your employees feel recognized and appreciated.
3. Provide opportunities for growth
Employees never want to feel “stuck” in a job. If an employee is constantly doing the same kind of work without challenge and new opportunities, coming to work will quickly become a monotonous and even draining activity for them. This will cause them to put minimal effort into their work. However, giving employees opportunities to grow is a great way to motivate them to work hard. The desire to grow at work will motivate employees to go above and beyond on the job.
4. Establish goals
Of course, it is important to have goals at work, including an overall or “big picture” goal. Although, sometimes our goals in the workplace can be a little too ambiguous or may seem unattainable, which can discourage your employees. So, it is highly beneficial to set smaller, more measurable goals for your employees, or even having them create individual goals for themselves. These goals can be established during a team meeting, for example, where your employees may collaborate to propose a team-wide goal. Setting more reasonable, short-term goals for your employees is a great way to motivate them.
5. Encourage teamwork
Encouraging teamwork will not only spread a positive attitude throughout the workplace, but it will also allow your employees to see themselves as small parts of a whole team. Teamwork in a workplace allows employees to rely on each other and see their work as part of a bigger picture. When employees can effectively work with each other as a team, they will be motivated to put hard work into each project.. Encouraging employees to work together as a team is a sure-fire way to keep employees motivated.
6. Listen to employee feedback
No one wants to feel like they aren’t being heard at work. Your employees will always have valuable opinions about the company, their work, etc. Take this feedback into consideration when making company decisions. It’s a great way to gauge how your employees are feeling. There are many ways to get employee feedback, including surveys or monthly team building meetings. Making an effort to use this employee feedback to improve your organization will be highly appreciated by your employees.
7. Promote a work-life balance
Obviously, it is okay to stress to your team that their work is important and that they should take it seriously. However, it should not be encroaching on their personal time. Many employees today feel like they do not have a healthy work-life balance, which can lead to burnout and uninterested employees. So, encourage your employees to have a work-life balance that they feel comfortable with, while still ensuring that their work is up to standard. Having a healthy work-life balance will also help employees feel cared about at work, and like they are more than just employees. They will want to come to work everyday and motivate them to produce the highest quality work they can.
Conclusion
There are many more ways to motivate employees than listed here, but not all of them are going to work for every employee. As a manager, it is your responsibility to make sure a combination of employee motivation methods are being implemented in your organization in order to motivate as many employees as possible, and as effectively as possible. Motivated employees are extremely valuable to every organization, regardless of industry or size, so start implementing these motivation methods in your organization today.
