How to Help Your Employees Stay Motivated

[This article was written by Samantha Higgins.]

As a business owner or manager, you likely know how important it is to have a professional, qualified staff. And since you’re the leader at work, it’s up to you to keep your team members engaged and encouraged while presenting challenges that will help your employees hone their skills. Keeping your employees motivated can be difficult at times. However, if you keep a few skills and tactics in mind to ensure your team members know they’re a valuable part of your business.

Be Supportive

Strong, supportive leadership is one of the best ways to motivate your employees. If you’re focused on offering your support, you’re likely working closely with your staff members. Support also means listening to your employees’ needs and concerns and empathizing with their feelings. This will help your employees excel in their professional abilities while gaining the courage to try new things. Remember your expectation of your team members will dictate the way they view their place in the office. Letting your staff know that you’re rooting for them can help them increase productivity.

Be Empowering

Each of your staff members needs to feel that he/she is an important addition to the company. Nobody likes to feel as if their contributions don’t matter. As a leader, you should make sure your team feels seen and heard. This means being open to suggestions and feedback and being willing to work with your employees to find a solution to company issues. It’s also a good idea to make your team members feel comfortable sharing some of their personal aspirations to show that you encourage your employees to have a work-life balance.

Eliminate Boredom

If your employees aren’t interested in what they’re doing, they’re not going to be as productive. To keep your staff motivated, make sure your office maintains a professional yet lively environment. Break up the monotony of office routines by letting your employees be creative and inventive. Ask team members for their input on how to complete certain tasks and make sure you don’t always assign repetitive tasks to the same employees. It’s also a good idea to schedule 10 or 15-minute breaks throughout the day so employees can recharge mentally or check on their family members.

Maintain a Positive Environment

Most working professionals spend the majority of their day at work. This means that you should make your company a place where employees aren’t tense or nervous about performing well. You can boost productivity by complimenting your employees often and encouraging them to share their skills and knowledge with the team. When a staff member makes a mistake, address it without humiliating him/her and turn the situation into a learning experience. If you want your staff to know that it’s ok to come out of their comfort zones, you have to challenge them without being condescending if they don’t handle a task perfectly.

Bring the Team together

When your employees feel like they belong to a team, they will be encouraged to work together to reach a common goal. Teamwork also helps your staff build rapport which could turn into effective marketing for your business, whether you’re reaching customers or future employees. Be sure to encourage friendly competition among staff members to keep everyone motivated and provide employee thank you gifts when a team member does an exceptional job on a project or task.

Offer Rewards

When staff members know that their hard work will be rewarded, they are more likely to work hard. When employees stand out for their accomplishments or skills, offer rewards, even if the rewards are small. For instance, you can offer a free lunch to a team member who exceeds sales goals or mention a staff member in the company newsletter when he/she helps to bring a project to completion. In addition to rewards, don’t forget employees’ birthdays and anniversaries and provide small tokens from the company to celebrate these special occasions.

Make Sure Your Workers Are Satisfied

Team members are much more professional when they are satisfied with their jobs. As a leader, you should provide your employees with information that promotes job security and communicate with them about any changes. Eliminate excessive paperwork by updating software and systems and keep getting feedback from your employees about things you can improve. When you get rid of unnecessary negativity, your team will look forward to coming to the office every day.

Keep the lines of communication open with your staff and always be open to exploring new ideas that can better your company and keep your staff engaged. This can lead to more productivity and a more welcoming work environment.