Motivation in the workplace

Regardless of whether or not your employees are happy working for you, they usually still complete the tasks entailed in their roles in order to secure their job. This often leads to the misconception that a company will continue to run effectively as long as all the employees are ticking their daily to-do lists. Although this statement is valid to some extent, we cannot disregard the immense impact that the motivation level of employees can make on the growth of the business. Disengaged employees will cause a strain on the company’s culture and performance, whereas a highly motivated and engaged employee culture will boost vibrance, productivity as well as the creativity in the business.

How can businesses keep employees inspired and motivated in their day-to-day roles?

Give employees a sense of purpose

We all like to do things with a reason. Although the main reason that the majority of people work is to earn money and make a living, monetary compensation is not enough to engage and retain employees. A great way to boost employee motivation in the workplace is to effectively communicate the impact that they are making to the wider business. This gives them a sense of purpose in their day-to-day role, even if it their role entails repetitive and monotonous tasks. Knowing that their daily accomplishments are appreciated and recognised by the business will encourage them to stay motivated, creating a thriving and productive work environment for all.

Give employees a sense of responsibility

As a manager, you may have the urge to micro-manage your team and ensure that everything is organised and in control. This may be a great way to keep projects on track, but it may take away the team’s sense of responsibility. Instead of micro-managing each employee and each task, let them take ownership of their assigned tasks and projects. Sit down with the team and discuss the main vision of the project and what the business aims to achieve by the end of it. Create KPIs that are easy to measure, and set milestones before the final deadline so that they know when the team will re-commence to discuss the progress. Stick to these dates and don’t micro-manage in between them. By letting them loose and trusting their work, it will give them a sense of responsibility and ownership over the project, keeping them motivated to deliver the best results.

Recognise and celebrate results

Always be generous with honest praising. Compliments inspire motivation and stimulate the desire to do better. Be aware of the KPIs that your employees have and make sure you take the time to acknowledge them for their achievements. Even if they don’t fully hit their target, recognise the hard work they have put in and give them the encouragement that they deserve. Having a reward and recognition system in place will incentivise the employees to work harder to reach their business goals. However, be mindful that the business should not only celebrate profit-related achievements, but also place emphasis on non-monetary achievements. For example, you can give a values award to employees who contribute to creating a positive work vibe and culture. By ensuring that you foster a culture of recognition and encouragement, your employees will be motivated to perform higher and thrive in what they do.

Amist the current war for talent, employee attraction, engagement and retention can be a challenge. Especially with the general shift of employee prorities, people are becoming more reluctant to give up their lifestyle or wellbeing for a higer salary. Take the time to review your internal systems and find the right strategy to keep your employees motivated to excel. You will be surprised how a thriving employee culture can impact the overall performance of the business.