No business can succeed without a motivated workforce. The staff are the engine of the operation, which is why you need to consider how you can keep your team motivated so that they perform to a high standard each day. Additionally, a motivated workforce can create a positive working culture in the workplace, which is something that everyone in the company can benefit from.
Keeping the workforce motivated is a huge challenge, though, and a challenge that will need constant work. There are a few effective tactics to try which should keep employees focused and motivated which should lead to greater success.
Set targets
It is hard to keep employees motivated if they are not working towards anything. Set individual, team, and company goals for both the short and long-term and make sure that these are challenging yet achievable. You must also make sure that you recognize and celebrate when these targets are met.
Incentives
You can also encourage staff to work to a high level each day with incentives which can provide an extra boost. There are many different types of incentive to consider, such as:
- Bonuses
- Early finishes/late starts
- Time off
- Team social events
Give positive feedback
It is amazing the impact that positive feedback can have on staff members, yet it is often something that managers shy away from. Make sure that you give genuine positive feedback to your employees and share this in public – this will help the staff member to feel valued and encourage others to work hard for recognition.
Awards
Leading on from this, staff awards are another excellent motivation tool which can also bring some fun into the office. You can have glass/engraved awards created and give these out to staff at a ceremony which can encourage staff to work hard, show your appreciation for their hard work, and bring the team closer together.
Career progression opportunities
Most people want to progress their career and climb the ladder so you need to make sure that you provide the ability to do this within your own company (otherwise they may look elsewhere). You can offer career progression opportunities in a few ways, such as:
- Sending staff to workshops, courses, and seminars
- Providing training opportunities
- Offering career advice
- Providing a mentor
- Promoting internally
Keep them involved
In order for staff to be motivated and work hard, they need to feel like their work matters, and they need to have a vested interest in the company’s vision. This means that you need to make sure that they are involved with the company by keeping them updated on the company’s performance, news, and targets, by providing shares in the business and by listening to their opinions and suggestions.
Keeping the workforce motivated is crucial to business success, but it is a huge and ongoing challenge for business owners. These are a few of the most effective strategies to try and combining a few of these should have a powerful effect on your staff and, in turn, the entire company.