Simple Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Employee Motivation

As 35th President John F. Kennedy once said, "Things do not happen. Things are made to happen." Now, regarding employee motivation, let's think about this saying in two ways. One, it can be utilized verbatim, spouted out as a platitude, never to be remembered again. Or, two, it can be used to motivate you to motivate your employees then.

The point here is that words are merely words until they are utilized and implemented. Keeping your employees feeling motivated is essential and beneficial to your success and growth. Many employers know this but struggle to implement tools to make workplace motivation a reality.

However, several effective tools can be used to help not only motivate your employees but help them maintain their motivation as well because a motivated workplace correlates with a successful workplace.

The Importance of Employee Motivation

It should be no secret that a motivated employee is going to equate to a productive employee, and a productive employee is going to equate to a more successful output. But while encouraging motivation in the workplace is no secret, accomplishing it almost feels like one at times.

Today's workplace can be filled with distractions. These distractions can detract from your employees' workflow and ultimate goals. For example, they may be "zoning out" on social media instead of seeking new clientele. Instead of researching a new discovery or technique in the field, they may be absorbing an off-topic podcast. More detrimentally, instead of focusing on the task at hand, they may also distract your other employees.

When someone lacks motivation in the workplace, it can have a domino effect that corrupts the rest of your employees. When this happens, it can spell detriment and disaster for your business. That is why establishing a motivated workplace can be critical. However, you must first ask yourself, are you staying motivated enough?

Meeting Everyone's Needs

Taking a page out of the book of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), they discuss their program as one of "attraction rather than promotion." Ultimately, this means if you are motivated, your employees will notice.

However, that does not mean that they will automatically follow suit. Your motivation can only get you so far. Unfortunately, it does not qualify for osmosis; it takes action to motivate other people.

As is also said in many 12-Step programs, "faith without works is dead." You can't just wish for it, so you must work. Luckily, plenty of tools can help you succeed in the motivation department.

Tools to Improve Employee Motivation

While there are several tools and exercises that can be utilized to create motivation in the workplace, let us focus on the five that we find integral. These are goal setting, time management, open-line communication, creating a communal work culture, and keeping curious.

Set Goals

One of the best motivators in the workplace can be setting goals. However, you must be careful because setting goals too low or too high can have the opposite effect. 

To mitigate this problem, you can create a reasonable goal window. That way, your employees will be motivated to reach their goals and stay motivated to further their goals.

Manage Time Efficiently

Many employers feel like keeping their employees active the entire time will lead to increased output. The truth is that this is not the case. Your employees need to feel that you value their time.

Did you know that in some countries, it is considered harassment to email employees outside of work hours? While this may seem extreme, it just shows the value of personal time. When your employee understands that you respect this, they will respect you by staying motivated during work hours.

Keep Communication Open

Keeping an open dialogue can be paramount to maintaining a motivating work environment. This is because honest feedback is the best way to determine what your employees need to stay motivated. 

Your employees are not cogs in a machine. They will prove it to you if you allow them to show it. Just as your ideas help motivate them, they can help motivate you and their co-workers.

Create a Communal Work Culture

When everyone feels seen in the workplace, it can go a long way in creating a more vibrant workplace. Sometimes the best motivator is allowing your employees to bring some of their outside inspiration inside. 

Stay Curious

The only way to keep growing is to keep learning. That is why ensuring your employees always have the resources to continue to grow in your field is essential. Although it is a cliche, it is true that "a mind is a terrible thing to waste," including your employees.

Maintain Motivation

So, now you have some tools to motivate the workplace. You may have even implemented them. But what about moving forward? Don't rest on your laurels. You need to keep curious yourself. Research new motivation techniques regularly. Quite frankly, you need to stay motivated to keep motivated.

Maintaining motivation in the workplace is crucial for both employee and employer well-being, but also continued positive client interaction. It is no secret that when your employees are motivated, they will be more proactive and productive in getting the job done. Several tools, tips, tricks, and resources can help keep your entire workplace motivated. These can range from holistic practices like breathwork, yoga, and meditation to team-building exercises that help create better connections between staff. An unmotivated workplace can leave you and your employees sluggish and distracted. Don't let this become the norm for your workplace. For more information, please reach out to Next Level Recovery Associates at (561) 735-2590.