Employee Motivation Techniques
Employee Motivation Techniques - How to Improve Employee Motivation in the Workplace
Why is motivation in the workplace important? What motivates employees? How to improve employee motivation?
Motivated employees are dedicated, productive and efficient. They enjoy their work and help their organization reduce the rate of absenteeism and employee turnover. When there's no motivation in the workplace, employees will spend more time attending to unproductive things that do not benefit the company especially if they are left unsupervised.
An employee who starts a new job is likely to have lots of initiative and feels motivated and idealistic. The opportunity usually looks encouraging. She sees her chance of using her skills to improve herself in the organization and expects that the rewards will follow.
Employees are human beings with individual needs. The first reason anyone secures a job is to earn an income to meet her basic needs to pay for food and shelter. She then expects more out of her job like having extra money to spend on a little luxury and for her savings.
If the basic monetary reward is met, she would look for something more like recognition or reward for a job well done. When she is motivated she welcomes challenges and responsibilities, look for better ways to do her job that allows her to demonstrate her skills and capabilities. But as she continues to work and realizes that there is lack of incentive, she may lose the inspiration to execute her duties and job responsibilities.
How to Motivate Employees
Employee Motivation Techniques No. 1 - Understand Human Needs
A manager must understand fundamental human needs so that he can motivate his staff. Give them what they need and you will get their cooperation and loyalty and they will help you reach your goal.
Employees need to feel that their job is secure. They want to feel a sense of belonging and develop mutual respect and understanding. They feel motivated if there is teamwork in the organization and they can participate. And they appreciate if they are given a certain amount of freedom, trust and the ability to express their creativity.
Employee Motivation Techniques No. 2 - Set Clear Goals and Objectives
If you want your employees or staff to feel that they fit in, let them know the company's vision and goals and their tasks, roles and objectives. They will feel that they are equally responsible for the company's success and they will do their best.
Provide them with a detailed job description. Let them know how their performance will be appraised and the rewards they will receive if they meet expectations. Coach, mentor and train them so that they know what to do and how to do them and their productivity and efficiency will increase.
Employee Motivation Techniques No. 3 - Communicate Effectively
Effective communication is very important in an organization to build rapport, relationships, teamwork and a successful team. Listen to your employees and they will listen to you. Keep them updated and give them the information or they'll assume things.
When employees are not allowed to communicate and voice out their opinions and ideas or receive information, either because of an imposed barrier or improper communication system, frustration ensues. When employees are kept in the dark, they don't feel that they belong. When there is communication breakdown across, below or above, employee motivation is down.
Employee Motivation Techniques No. 4 - Fair Performance Appraisal Review
Set a proper and fair performance appraisal system. In addition to the annual review, track employees' performance periodically so that you and your staff can check their progress and provide guidance and support.
An organization that rewards its employees based on seniority and favoritism will frustrate its employees. When an employee perceives that her effort will not result in a promotion, salary increase, career advancement or career growth, she will fell unmotivated.
Employee Motivation Techniques No. 5 - Give Rewards and Positive Reinforcement
An immediate praise for a job well done is motivating. When an employee receives a positive feedback, she will do better. A manager can acknowledge his staff's outstanding performance by personally congratulating her, offering an incentive or celebrating the success, even in a small way.
You can reward a staff with a salary increase, promotion or an award. Give credits and recognition in the form of verbal and written praise. Without reinforcement, she can't measure her performance and is uncertain of her progress toward the company's goal and her objective.
Employee Motivation Techniques No. 6 - Create a Positive Work Environment
An employee spends about a third of her daily life associating with other people at work. It can make or break her. If the environment is hostile or if the managers practice discrimination or favoritism at the workplace, employee conflict is likely to happen. This will make employees lose their motivation.
In addition to a friendly working environment, an employee's productivity improves if she is able to work with ease in a safe and clean work space. Employees also need adequate and the right tools to work efficiently.
Employee Motivation Techniques No. 7 - Build Trust and Integrity
Employees are happy to work with honest, sincere and trustworthy leaders. Exercise fairness and justice and avoid practicing double standards and favoritism. Show your integrity so that your staff are motivated to collaborate and respect you for your sound moral principles.
Trust your staff by giving them a certain amount of autonomy. If you have already delegated a task, allow your staff to carry it out and finish the work within the stipulated time.
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