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It’s no secret that companies significantly benefit when their employees are motivated and engaged. After all, they deliver better results in a shorter amount of time than those who are apathetic or dissatisfied. They strive to perform and do their jobs well, because they feel accomplished and because they want to contribute to the organisation. This has a flow on effect when it comes to those times when they encounter problems at work and will look at these as challenges to overcome or opportunities to create new solutions.
As great as that sounds, the reality is that 71% of workers rate themselves disengaged or uninspired in their work. Even if just one team member is like this, the productivity of the whole group can be affected. A big organisation is not immune to damage caused by demotivated employees.
An environment that motivates and encourages engagement, improves performance, and encourages team members to work together comes down to the responsibility of the management. With the right approach and steps, employees will find themselves personally invested in the success of the whole organisation.
Let’s start with..
1. Set Regular Sit Downs
A communicative environment is vital in getting employees engaged and motivated. The purpose is not to micromanage team members, but to be updated on how they are going with their work. Leaders can find out whether they are having issues or find their jobs too stressful, and employees feel better knowing their bosses care enough to ask and listen. A good leader is also able to tailor-fit his or her communication efforts to match the employee’s style or interest, and employees appreciate the personal approach more than being an anonymous member of the organisation.
2. Provide Support
Employees are supposed to have the knowledge and skills to do their job, but it does not mean that they will never encounter new tasks or require further training. At times, supervisors only suppose that their team members will figure things out on their own and forget to ask if they need support. Even just showing them that they are allowed to ask for help or giving them tips will already make them feel like they are not alone.
3. Introduce Some Fun
The workplace is not a playground, but adding some fun elements can make employees feel like work is not boring and uninteresting. Some bosses just like to add a bit of humor, but other organisations try to integrate it into their company culture through special activities or events. This also allows employees to interact a little more with bosses in a relaxed environment.
4. Introduce Incentive Programs
Reward and recognition programs are not just about giving monetary incentives. In many cases, employees are just eager to hear positive feedback or to receive public commendation of their hard work and success. Of course, bonuses or other perks are a great plus, and companies should also strive to make their compensation and benefits packages competitive.
5. Make Goals Attainable And Short-term
Even big projects can be divided into smaller steps so that short-term and attainable goals can be set for team members, helping tp prevent them from feeling overburdened and stressed. Being clear about these goals will allow them to focus their efforts and when they achieve these short-term goals, it will make them feel successful and confident, ultimately eager to want to accomplish more.
6. Give Them A Sense Of Purpose
While setting short-term goals make it easier to plan for the day-to-day work, being clear about the long-term goals and vision of the organisation gives employees a sense of purpose. They will understand how their work contributes to the big picture and how they help the organisation achieve their mission. It also guides their every decision and effort, knowing that they should be a part of realising this vision. The sense of engagement will drive their desire for excellence at work.
7. Involve Them In Big Decisions
Employees love feeling important in the organisation and one of the ways to do this is to involve them in decisions that affect them. For example, have a town hall or survey and get their ideas on key issues. Engaged employees sincerely want to make the company better and will be eager to share their suggestions and ideas.
Everyone, whether managers or employees, want to go to work excited and eager to do well. Working to get every member of the organisation engaged and motivated is a worthwhile investment, and the company will definitely see and reap the benefits of following these tips.
“The opinions expressed by BizWitty Contributors are their own, not those of BizCover and should not be relied upon in place of appropriate professional advice. Please read our full disclaimer."
