Motivated Employees

When it comes to job satisfaction, financial rewards may rank lower than most people think. Being happy in the workplace seems to depend more on intangibles: feeling like you are part of a team, being valued and feeling appreciated consistently outranks money. Many of the following recommendations probably sound like common sense but you would be surprised how many managers never follow through. Happy employees are motivated employees, and motivated employees can move mountains!

Step 1: Define your vision. Make sure your vision is a roadmap for your employees. Knowing where they fit goes a long way when trying to boost company morale.

Step 2: Give your employees what they need: Never assume that your employees have the tools they need to be successful. Check in with them on a regular basis and find out what they are missing.

Step 3: Communicate often: Training sessions, newsletters, and regular meetings can all be used to present your vision to your employees. Make sure to answer all of their questions, and if anyone is confused, find a better way to present the information so it’s easily digestible. Probably the most important part of being a leader is to communicate effectively. Creating a culture of open communication where managers and employees share common foals and can work together should always take top priority.

Step 4: Engagement: Find a way to get all of your employees actively engaged in the planning and decision-making process. When a project becomes their baby, it becomes something they are willing to fight for.

Step 5: Practice random acts of kindness: Don’t wait for periodic review to give praise. Instead, offer positive feedback as often as possible. Negative feedback should also be given asap, but in a manner in which your employees will learn from it, not feel scorned. You can schedule weekly or bi-weekly meetings with individual employees to discuss ongoing projects and any issues they might have. Never forget to say, “Thank you!” Believe it or not, it’s a powerful motivator and needs to be done as often as possible. Publicly acknowledging your employees’ contribution is as important as financial rewards.

Step 6: Give respect and create trust: Use your best judgement, wisdom and experience to create a supportive environment. If problem arise, examine the circumstances, understand the context and only pass judgement when you 100 percent sure your employee made a mistake.

Good bosses look at the big picture and details, taking care of both the project and employees. Get involved in the creation process, and pay attention to what is going on. Remember to always have a smile on your face. Making work fun pays off with happier, motivated employees who go the extra mile without being asked!