There are a number of different ways to create staff motivation, and the ones that work best will vary from workplace to workplace, and even from staff member to staff member. Being attuned to their needs and flexible about working conditions and what you can offer is the best way to strike a good balance for every employee. Here are some common ways to create motivation for staff that you may wish to mix and match:
- Financial rewards. The main motivation for every worker is of course, to earn money. Working hard to seek a higher position is usually spurred as much by the income boost as it is about wanting to increase skills and take on more responsibility. This is natural, and it’s certainly true financial rewards and bonuses can be a great way of increasing motivation. Particularly in sales positions, it’s considered a way of encouraging employees to perform to their best. However, you should be wary of creating an atmosphere of negative competition between workers, and the pressure to sell can sometimes create stress and anxiety rather than positive motivation.
- Instil a sense of pride in the company. If you can get employees to understand and appreciate the values of your company, they’ll be much more likely to form an emotional connection and feel independently motivated to work hard and achieve success. Values could include being environmentally friendly, sponsoring local causes, or providing some kind of community service. Feeling like their work is earning more than a profit for the company is a great way to keep staff motivated.
- Have some fun. Everyone likes occasional nice gestures, such as remembering a birthday and bringing food and drink, organising activity days or casual social events on a regular basis. This improves staff morale, creates a sense of camaraderie, and increases everyone’s sense of investment in the company. Having friends at work is a huge source of motivation for many people, rather than just feeling like they’re independently working for a corporate entity.
- Encourage new ideas and welcome changes. Even for new or junior employees (in fact, sometimes especially in these cases), feeling like they have a voice and are listened to is a huge part of feeling values and motivated to become a strong part of the company. Listen to what they have to say, ask their opinion and make sure they feel like they matter even if they’ve only just been hired.
- Build a strong, varied and cohesive team. People are hugely motivated (or otherwise) by the people they’re surrounded by. By employing dynamic, talented and motivated individuals, this will spread throughout your company. As an employer and leader, it’s your responsibility to ensure they’ll fit with the attitude of the company and staff, and be a positive force rather than a negative one.
Depending on your staff, you may find some of these methods more effective than others. Mix and match to find a system that works for you and your work environment.