5 Tips to Help You Motivate Your Employees
If you are an entrepreneur with a growing business, maximizing revenues and increasing productivity is paramount to ensuring the survival of your dream project. And one of the most important things for your business is keeping your staff happy, engaged and motivated.
For a first time employer, it’s essential to understand that motivated workers are productive workers—but how do you motivate a group of employees to work hard and help your business grow?
Luckily, motivating your employees doesn’t have to consume a lot of resources. In fact, all it needs is a little effort and attention. Here are some tips to get you started.
Be accessible
For an employer, it’s very important to be seen and to be accessible to their employees. A simple “Hi” in the morning can go a long way in making an employee feel invested in their workplace, helping them stay motivated through the day.
It is also very important to establish clear communication channels with your employees. This not only helps in solving work-related issues faster, but also helps employees reach out to the employer directly in times of distress.
Recognize hard work
There are number of ways employers can recognize hard work. An appreciative note, an email or a pat on the back can all have great effect on the morale of the employee. Taking time out from the daily grind to honor the accomplishments of your employees at a lunch or during company outings is another great way to motivate your employees.
Rewards also work great, but they don’t have to be grand. Small gestures, such as a personalised handwritten note for a job well done or a small gift from the employer, also go a long way.
Host team-building activities
Team-building activities bind members of the company together and make the office a happy place. Such activities should be made a priority, as they are not only fun but also have a huge impact on employee engagement levels.
Going out for lunch with your team is a great morale boosting exercise. It is a great way to get your team to bond with each other and develop personal relationships that foster commitment. Such activities should be planned at least a week in advance, so that they create a buzz and give the staff something to look forward to through the week.
Focus on employee development
As an employer, it’s easy to forget that every single individual in your office contributes to the growth of the business. Helping them grow in their work will thus help the business in the long run.
Giving employees more of a say in how they do their job and asking them often for their input and suggestions can help them create a sense of attachment with their work, helping the business in the long run. Granting employees time off to pursue personal projects, family commitments, educational or personal development programmes also helps in raising morale.
Be realistic when setting goals
Setting goals is important, but making sure they are realistic and achievable is even more important.
Be crystal clear with your instructions, so that both employee and employer can work towards a specific result. Confusing instructions or unrealistic goals can make your employees feel frustrated, and thus lose interest in their work.
Got any more tips that help keep your employees motivated? Share your insights with us in the comments below.
