When you perform a specific task or embark on a project, the only thing that keeps you going from start to finish is motivation. This motivation can come in different forms, but the primary aim is to achieve a desired goal in the best possible way. A lack of motivation leads to little or no productivity, which is evident based on several studies. Employers must find a way to ensure that their workers stay motivated to achieve better results. Several factors lead to motivation in employees. Here are top five:
incentives
Employees are motivated when they receive incentives to perform a task or complete a project. The most common form of incentive that organisations give their employees is salary or wages. But over time, salary becomes more of an expectation than a motivation. The motivation that salaries bring is short-lived and does not directly increase performance in the long-term. Employers could also use rewards to motivate their team members for exceptional work. When a team member gets tips (like an all-expense-paid trip, option to work from home, public acknowledgment, or an honorary award) for being extraordinary, every other workplace member will strive to put in extra work.
Often, employers resort to incentives because it does not require costs. For example: who do not complete the implementation plan this month, will be deprived of the bonus or will not leave the workplace until they close the annual report. Workers from this method arrive in a state of stress, not stimulus. The consequence of this is poor work capacity and frequent layoffs, which leads to staff turnover, and this is a big minus for the company’s growth. Instead, the emphasis should be on rewards. In this case, the manager will be able to create an effective working well-coordinated team whose employees will fight in a healthy competition: some of the employees with the best results for the work performed based on the results summed up for the quarter will be awarded a bonus in the amount of double salary. Or a salary bonus of 2% on personal sales.
personal development
There is an inner drive in everyone that pushes them to become a better version of themselves. The need to become better as a professional is one of the most influential factors driving team member motivation. The opportunity to learn and develop skills in a workplace will lead to increased performance, better input, and favorable outcomes. Companies can organise free or discounted certificate training for interested workers. For example, if a team member takes a course and gets a project management certification, all the knowledge from the training will be used to the company’s advantage. This is a win-win for both workers and employers.
A new employee must know about the company, features of the work unit, equipment, safety precautions, work methods, corporate culture, and so on. To do this, the company creates its own educational portals, where it uploads educational materials, presentations, video tutorials, lectures, and electronic courses. Employees are provided with a username and password. They study at a convenient time, and independently build a schedule of classes. This helps with acquiring new knowledge on the job.
positive relationships
A worker’s relationship with other company members – whether online or in-person – is an excellent factor that drives motivation. Creating a team where everyone understands each other and feels accepted will foster collaboration and results. This relationship should not only exist between staff. Superiors should also build a foundation for employees to communicate with them.
Being honest and thanking others for any reason is the easiest way to build positive relationships. This will enable your colleagues to help you in the future with unfamiliar projects and in solving various problems. Plus, it’s the best way to get people to like you. Honest and kind employees tend to develop closer relationships with colleagues. Building healthy and good working relationships with colleagues will open doors to new opportunities and promotions. This allows those who work with you to be confident that you are capable of handling any situation. But you should never forget that no matter what the company’s style of relations is, your most important task is to professionally fulfill your direct duties.
company culture
A company’s culture lies on all of these tenets – work environment, mission, values, ethics, expectations, and goals. Each of these tenets sets down a roadmap that simplifies the decision-making process and helps achieve the tenets. When a company’s culture aligns with personal beliefs, employees will be motivated to work without restriction. Workers who share similar goals with their organisations will clarify their purpose and motivation to achieve better results. In addition to the company culture, processes are another factor that positively impacts employees’ motivation. A streamlined process creates a system that allows workers to perform their duties and minimise time loss effectively. As much as workers are expected to perform their responsibilities, companies also need to provide the necessary resources. Indeed, productivity is a two-way street.
Corporate culture is an invaluable resource for an organisation, as it can act both as a marketing tool and as an effective means of personnel management. Each company forms its own rules of conduct for employees, based on the specifics of the business and the goals that the organisation is aimed at achieving. The importance of managing corporate culture is evident to many results-driven companies today. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to introduce new standards of behaviour overnight; this process takes time and effort, which does not always please ambitious managers. However, consistent work to implement the rules of communication within the team, between employees and management, and all other key stakeholders will lead to the company becoming stronger, more stable, and more competitive.
work-life balance
People have everyday lives to live outside their regular job. And, everyone always tries to make sure that their personal lives don’t interfere with their work-life. However, several pieces of research have proven that when workers face challenges outside their work realm, it can cause reduced concentration, engagement, and attention in the workplace. Employers need to show a great deal of patience and understanding to help employees through whatever challenges they might be facing. Policies and programmes to help people with their personal challenges will show that the employers care about their welfare, help to create work-life balance, and increase motivation.
An example of a work-life balance, as well as excellent team-building activities, can be the joint participation of colleagues in sports events and sections (for example, the creation of a football team, ski competitions, etc.). The company should remember to encourage not only professional but also personal achievements of employees. And here, first of all, leaders should consider how sincere they are with the intention. A company may face the fact that it declares its readiness for this very balance of work and personal life, without resisting the need for such a balance.
final words
There are different ways to motivate employees to boost productivity. Employers must understand that sources of motivation change from time to time. Hence, it is important to understand employees and find the best factors to motivate them to put in better efforts.
Author: Rina Cooper – Freelance business consultant
