·
hares
Motivating
employees and helping them do the best job possible takes time and
experience. But as a business owner, there is nothing more rewarding
than helping other people -- as well as yourself -- works to their fullest
potential. The keys to being a good motivator are: clear
communication, training, and appreciation. If you use the following
tactics, you will become a better leader.
1. Communicate.
Make
sure that your employees know exactly what you expect of them. Describe the job
and your expectations before hiring, and then reiterate these expectations on a
regular basis. With a new employee, this may be a daily necessity. Later,
it can be done less often. Never be vague or generalize. Always be
direct. Employees want to know exactly what you expect of them.
2. Train.
Take
the time to train your employees in your methods and way of doing
business. Create a training process that is replicable. It may be
time consuming at first, but it will pay off. And be flexible. No
matter how long you think it will take to train someone, it often takes longer,
even with experienced employees.
3. Assume people want to do a good job.
Nobody
on your team is making mistakes because they think it's fun, want to spite
you or make the company lose money. I've seen entrepreneurs become livid
over an employee’s simple mistake, as if the employee did something wrong on
purpose. Don't take an employee's mistakes personally.
4. Show employees you appreciate their contributions.
Employees
should feel that what they're doing is important to you and makes a difference
to the company. This means everyone, including the person at the front
desk, needs to know that the way he or she deals with people on the telephone,
by email or when they visit the office is vital to establishing
a courteous and professional image for the company. Everyone counts.
5. Create an efficient, attractive,
comfortable workplace.
Consider
your employees’ health, time and happiness when buying furnishings and
equipment. Don't skimp on what will make someone's job easier, whether
it’s about replacing a copier machine or a computer. Don’t forget their
comfort. No one wants to work in a cold or stifling office. Make sure the
heating and air conditioning work properly.
Create
an attractive workplace that gives employees a sense of pride. I’ve found
that painting office walls bright colours, instead of boring grey or beige,
increases energy levels. Buying attractive furniture, whether it’s from IKEA or
a top designer, gives employees a sense of pride. They tend to keep their
workspaces neater and thus find it easier to be productive.
6. Banish fear.
Encourage
employees to ask questions and make suggestions. Listen to their ideas.
Implement the ones that make sense, improve productivity, increase sales or add
to a general sense of well-being in the work environment. Make sure they
feel comfortable telling you early on whether they are having problems getting
the job done. You want to have as much time as possible to work with them
to find solutions.
7. Lead by the Golden
Rule
If
in doubt about how to treat an employee, ask yourself, "Is this the way I
would like to be treated?" Create the kind of workplace where you
would like to work. Sometimes that’s difficult to do in today’s
fast-paced, constantly changing environment. When the going gets rough,
take a deep breath and a minute to reflect. Put yourself in your
employee’s shoes. Think about the bigger, long-term picture. Treating
your employees well is always the best option.
8. Share the
excitement.
Let
employees know when things are going well. Don't keep them in the dark when
there are problems. There's no reason to notify them about every glitch or
setback, but you can tell them when cash flow is tight and you need their
help keeping expenses down. Celebrate each meaningful success, even the small
ones, with something as simple as ordering a couple of pizzas (or whatever your
team likes to eat). Praise an employee publicly, so that everyone knows that
you mean it.
Sharing the excitement
goes a long way to keeping employees engaged and happy.
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