MOTIVATION IN THE WORKPLACE

 

 

All companies are the same. Sure, they all have different missions, visions, products, services, and functions that spread across industries. But with all these differences in mind, there is one common thread: employees. Regardless of company size or objective, employees are the fuel that drives all businesses. Simply put, without employees — without motivated employees — businesses would not be successful.

So what motivates employees? Is it his/her internal drive? Energy? Passion? All of the above? Well, there’s really no one answer because employees are even more unique than the companies they work for. However, we have come up with three things you can do in the workplace to bring out the best attributes of your employees. This will keep them motivated, which will in turn, support your bottom line.

1.  Be Accessible.

Regardless of where they are in the hierarchy, employees appreciate being able to talk with superiors in a comfortable, safe, and judgment-free environment. Speaking about issues or concerns without feeling slighted or marginalized is critical in keeping employees motivated and connected to you and your business. Being accessible is mutually beneficial because it provides a support outlet for employees and gives your insight into how your business is doing at the ground level.

2.  Give Affirmations.

One key to long-term motivation in the workplace is affirmation from management. If an employee is asked to clean up a mess or take a customer complaint call, affirmation from management will establish a positive demeanour that can then drive positive work ethic — regardless of task size or importance. And because showing gratitude in stills trust, this can help reduce the risk of turnover simply because they enjoy the environment they’re in. Effective affirmation can be simple. A quick “thank you” will go a long way.

3.  Make them Feel Valuable.

Value is the sum of both accessibility and affirmation. When an employee knows he/she can talk comfortably with management and when their quality work is noticed, they will begin to feel that what they’re doing serves value to the company on a much larger scale. When an employee recognizes that his/her value to the company exceeds far beyond their job description, they will have a stronger desire be a better, more motivated employee.

Because running a company is a numbers game, sometimes it’s easy to forget about the psychology behind business. Yes, all companies have their differences — but if accessibility and affirmation work together to form motivated employees driven by their self-recognized value, your bottom line may improve a bit more than you think.