Companies have to remember that their employees are people and not machines. They can’t just insert a coin or pay a salary and expect the same results each time. Employee motivation goes up and down depending on the stimuli in the workplace and beyond. Business don’t have full control over an individual’s feelings and actions, but they can have a tremendous influence on these. Keeping employees motivated to work hard requires the development of a holistic system that considers their needs. Supply these needs and you can fuel their passion for work.
- Underscore the Importance of Their Work
A person who thinks that his work is meaningless won’t be motivated to exert much effort into it. Everyone wants to feel that their jobs are important because it is such a core part of our identities. Companies should communicate this well to their employees. Explain the objective of every project and its effects on a larger scale. Then go down to the different departments and make sure that they know the part that they play in making this a success. Department heads can do the same with the teams under them.
- Set Definite Goals and Track Progress
Every employee should have daily or weekly goals. For example, salespeople have quotas that they have to hit and call center agents may have a volume to consider. Software developers have to achieve milestones within schedule and engineers must be able to achieve specific functionalities before certain dates. Goals must be definite and measurable such that completion can be checked. They need to have a finite time allotment or else people will waste a lot of time. Monitoring the progress can be the job of the managers or automated into a system.
- Foster a Team-oriented Culture
Members of a team should have a common goal. The completion of one person’s tasks may be necessary before another can start with theirs. The team’s statistics may affect every person’s schedule, stature, or salary. The members are likely to cheer each other on and help each other out because they are in it together. When someone is dependent on us, we tend to work harder since we don’t want to let them down. Companies can encourage this team spirit further by funding their activities outside of work such as sports and recreation.
- Recognize the Hardest Workers
A hard worker that continually gets ignored will eventually lose the motivation to be that diligent. Once it is lost, it is incredibly difficult to get back. Companies should pay special attention to their hardest workers. The statistics should make them easy to spot. Create a system that recognizes the top performers for each week or each month. Post their names so that their peers can see how amazing they are. Perhaps others can also be motivated to do well so that they can get the same recognition.
- Give Out Gifts as a Tangible Reward
Kudos are great but something tangible could be better. It all depends on how a person perceives the rewards provided. For example, the company can provide gifts such as a hamper to each person on a successful negotiation for a partnership with another business. Fill this up with wine, ham, cheese, and other premium items that they can enjoy at home. Hampers are particularly suitable for employee rewards because it’s easy to customize to different types of people and various levels of achievement. There are also several themes to choose from.
- Listen to Complaints and Suggestions
It won’t always be smooth sailing. Companies may receive complaints from employees because of a recent policy change, a badly behaving boss, a rude coworker, or a perceived injustice. The best way to deal with this is to hear both the complainant and those accused. An independent body may be tasked to deal with the matter for a speedy resolution that is legal and acceptable to all. Employees may also be eager to present suggestions from their observations around the workplace. These may prove to be brilliant ideas.
- Follow Through on Promises
If a company makes promises, then it should follow through on those or else they risk losing the confidence of their employees. For example, they should raise salaries on the stated date and with the stated amount. Some promises are related to flexible working hours or working from home. All of the necessary preparations to make this happen must be completed in time as well for a smooth transition. There might also be promises about support for the rights of women, minorities, or the disabled in the workplace. Members of these sectors will be waiting for results.
- Maintain a Clean and Comfortable Environment
People can’t work hard in environments that are filled with distractions. They won’t be able to focus if they are dealing with discomfort. They might not be happy to be working in an office that is cluttered and unsanitary. Companies should always make the workplace presentable not just to clients who might be stopping by but also the workers themselves who are using the premises every day.
- Share the Company’s Success
If the company is doing well, then share the success with the employees who made everything possible. Emphasize the fact that they are the foundation of the business and that the company is thankful for their work. There may also be bonuses to the key people and celebrations where everyone is invited. Some of the profits may also be channeled into new amenities that benefit the workers.
- Provide a Clear Path to the Top
Employees should see a clear path for their advancement within the company. They should not feel that they are stuck where they are no matter what they do. Promotions should be given to the most deserving individuals according to a specific set of criteria. That way, people will know that they could get to where they want to be through their efforts. They will continue to work harder as they climb through the ranks as long as they can see that the system is working.