As a business owner, you know to motivate staff is a fundamental part of the backbone of a successful business. Employee motivation leads to increased productivity and a positive work environment. However, motivating staff can be challenging, especially in today’s fast-paced work culture. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll share five effective ways to motivate your staff and optimise productivity.
From recognising and appreciating your staff to offering flexible work schedules, these tips are sure to make your employees feel valued and motivated. Let’s dive in!
5 Ways to Motivate Staff to Optimise Productivity
Saying thank you
There is nothing that works well as a simple thank you when employees have put the extra effort into something or reached a goal. You can motivate an employee by acknowledging what they have done, and why it was appreciated.
You can then acknowledge the employee during a staff meeting. You can also have a formal employee recognition scheme in the workplace because it is a good way to show appreciation to your employee when they do something good for the company. Thank yous are important when it comes to keeping your employees motivated and engaging with them daily. This is a good culture because it celebrates successes no matter how big or small.
Flexible work schedules to motivate staff
Flexible work schedules are important because it is going to improve the work/life balance of your employees, which will help reduce stress and make them happier. This doesn’t mean you have to offer your employees shifts, but you need to offer some flexibility – starting and finishing 15 minutes later for a school run, and annual leave purchase – because it will mean a lot to your employees. Manage flexible schedules effectively with Tracktime24.
Peer to peer nomination
If the workplace has an employee recognition scheme, consider including peer nominations.
Peer nominations are seen as a great approach because they are seen to be more valuable to employees because it is coming from colleagues who have been seeing their contributions first-hand. Recognition can mean more when it comes from their colleagues compared to when it comes from management – even the best manager is going to find it hard to keep on top of everything each team member is doing every day. The nominator should explain what the colleague did to deserve it.
Recognising staff
You can increase motivation and boost the productivity of your staff by recognising staff for ongoing contributions or specific achievements. You don’t have to spend a lot on rewards – it can be something as simple as leaving a note on their desk, or a voucher for a cake or coffee.
There are some workplaces that offer pride of place car parking space as part of their recognition scheme. Even the things you consider silly can make a lot of difference.
Encouraging participation
Always try your best to involve your team in decisions where possible. When you involve them in the decision-making process, they get a sense of control and they will feel like they have a say in helping the team reach its targets and goals – this is going to keep them motivated, which is great for the company. Whether it’s discussing project strategies in the conference room or brainstorming ideas around the breakroom tables, encouraging participation fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, employee motivation is crucial to ensuring productivity in any workplace. Utilizing strategies such as saying thank you, offering flexible work schedules, implementing peer to peer nominations, recognising staff, and encouraging participation can go a long way in promoting a motivated and engaged workforce.
By investing in employee motivation, businesses can enjoy the benefits of increased productivity, better employee retention, and a more positive work environment.
