The Secret to More Productive Employees (Pssst … It’s Not So Secret)
Research has proven that employees who are motivated, engaged, and responsive are a lot more productive than those who aren’t. When staff feels engaged and appreciated for their efforts, they are naturally more inclined to work their hardest for the betterment of the company.
Why? Because they can see firsthand what their contribution means to their employers and the overall success of the company.
It doesn’t hurt to point out that employees who are overall happier with their jobs are less likely to quit. And businesses can benefit from lower turnover rates, which can save them money and improve their brand.
So how exactly can you start motivating your employees? Here are some tips to getting started:
Don’t Procrastinate
Disengaged and unappreciated employees have a tendency to warrant a negative impact on your organization. Their negativity begins to spill into their work, which ultimately reflects your brand. Waiting on the “right time” to begin motivating your staff could lead to a weakened morale and poor working environment that results in low productivity.
Taking the time to come up with various ideas and implement them will help to improve morale and show key performers how much you care about their contributions. Start researching various ways to motivate your staff, such as providing opportunities for advancement or establishing an employee rewards program that offers incentives, bonuses, and recognition for a job well done.
Investigate How They Feel
If someone were to ask you what the morale is like in your workplace, would you know how to respond? In order to determine how you can best motivate your staff, you need to have a clear understanding as to how they feel and where they stand as it pertains to the work environment.
Of course you’re going to have high, medium, and low performers in the workplace, so you’ll need to hear from some of each. Create an environment in which your staff can talk to you about their issues and feel as if you’re going to help resolve any problems. By meeting with your staff, you can determine how they feel about their jobs, what could be better, and what might motivate them. One way to get honest feedback is to offer employees an anonymous survey asking how they feel about the company, the management, and their position.
Determine What Drives Them
Once you have an idea of how your employees feel about their current working environment, you can begin digging deeper into different incentives that might motivate them and improve their overall outlook. Remember, the objective here is to create an environment where employees feel as if their contributions are valued.
Some basic drivers that might motivate staff include:
- Managers showing interest in their well-being
- Giving people work that speaks to their talents while also challenging them
- The ability to provide input and make decisions
- The ability to advance within the organization
- A work environment that allows them to collaborate freely
- The appropriate resources to get the job done.
If you don’t have these basic drivers within your organization, this is where you need to start making changes. The sooner you’re able to provide the basic staples to your staff, the quicker you will see a change in their morale.
Set the Tone at the Top
As the head of an organization, you essentially set the tone for your staff. By projecting a positive attitude and culture in your business, you can make a significant impact on the morale of your staff. Ways to set a positive tone include:
- Give them what they want (within reason) . If an employee has great ideas and is looking to have more input, what’s the harm in allowing them to help out? Letting them help and offer advice will ultimately help them feel valued—and could potentially help improve business.
- Don’t be afraid to offer praise . You don’t have to follow people around and applaud their every move, but it’s nice to hear “good job” every once in a while. Offer sincere praises to your staff when they do something that deserves recognition. Whether it’s announcing their accomplishments in a staff meeting, coming up with an employee of the month award, or simply walking by and making a point to say thanks, they’ll appreciate the recognition and praise.
- Invest in incentive programs . Nothing motivates an employee like an incentive. From cash bonuses to comp time, there are a ton of things you can do just to let them know you’re watching and appreciate them. Work with your accountant to determine what types of incentives you can feasibly afford to offer.
- Invest in their future . Most employees would jump at the opportunity to sharpen their skills and/or broaden their horizons. By offering things like training, courses, and/or assistance with tuition costs, you’re allowing your staff to grow and supporting them every step of the way.
When you’re motivating your employees, the path to success becomes a lot easier. When employees are happy with their jobs and feel appreciated for their contributions, they’re going to work a lot harder to help you reach your business goals.
If it’s been a while since you’ve assessed your work environment and employee morale, it’s a good idea to start. The sooner you get on the path to showing your appreciation, the better off it will be for your business as a whole.
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