A motivated workforce is a productive workforce; however, not all employees have an innate sense of motivation, driving them to efficiently complete tasks without hindering the overall quality of their efforts. There are a variety of ways to promote motivation in the workplace, and today we are going to discuss some of the most effective approaches.
Setting Realistic Goals
Every employer wants the most from his or her employees, but in order to accomplish this, goals need to be attainable without having to overwork your staff. It is important to account for each employee’s specific skillsets and capabilities when setting desired benchmarks. It is usually easier to set realistic goals for staff members that have held their positions for a significant amount of time since you already have a good idea of what they are capable of. For new hires, you may want to consider developing a system which enables you to effectively analyze their productivity to help come up with pragmatic expectations. This is not to say that you should be hovering over their shoulders and micromanaging them as this will likely lead to decreased productivity and will potentially make for an uncomfortable workplace environment.
Don’t Be Afraid of Change
If your current goal setting techniques are not achieving the desired results, change them! It can be difficult to shift your mentality and alter your approach to what you have believed were the best ways to maximize workplace productivity. Some aspects of your current approach may be working while others have not been so successful and you can use this data to create a list; for the failed methods, begin brainstorming ideas to replace them. It may be beneficial to have a team meeting, enabling your business to work together to develop solutions that can positively impact everyone. Reassessing these solutions can be done monthly, quarterly, annually, or only when necessary. This timeline is dependent upon the unique characteristics of your business and its team members.
Constructive Criticism and Positive Feedback
If an employee is underperforming, chastising and/or taking punitive measures will most likely exacerbate the problem. Instead, set some time aside to meet with that employee, providing constructive criticism while genuinely listening to what he or she has to say. Working together, you might find that there are solutions with the potential to benefit the entire company.
Don’t forget about the team members already achieving the goals that have been set. While the rewards for commission-based jobs are immediately tangible, most positions will need to have their accomplishments recognized in different ways. Show your appreciation by publicly congratulating them via a company-wide email, taking them all out for lunch, or whatever form of positive encouragement you deem appropriate.
