Maintaining motivated employees can be difficult for a manager in any organization. At busy times, employees may feel overwhelmed and during the slow periods they may become passive and unmotivated. Regardless, it’s the responsibility of management to deal with this issue. Here are a few strategies for increasing employee motivation.
Ways to increase employee motivation
Create a Motivated Environment
The first step towards a motivated workforce is to create an encouraging environment for the behaviors you are trying to foster. You must determine who is enthusiastic and passionate and who is not. Shedding those derogatory influences will help create a more positive environment that does not have to be constantly maintained. Embrace the motivated environment and in turn, you will have a great group of employees who can become future company leaders.
Senior Management Visibility
It is a highly motivating factor if your employees see that the highest levels of an organization are invested in the success of new company initiatives. An engaged presence is necessary for boosting morale in the workplace.
Communicate
Employees want to feel like a member of a team. It’s essential that management communicate the overall goals of the company so that everyone is on the same page when it comes to results. Accomplishing this makes it possible for team members to make good decisions and allows them to measure themselves against those goals. Employees must be informed of decisions arrived at management meetings and updates to company policies. Employees should be made aware of any new developments that will change how employees are evaluated and compensated.
Always Listen
This may be the most important aspect to increase employee motivation. Sometimes it’s the only way that managers can tell if they are doing the right thing – or not. Employees must know that that management is paying attention and that they care.
Address Employee Concerns
Employees want their concerns to be heard and have the ability to ask questions. Holding regular meeting where team members are encouraged to participate is critical.
Provide Opportunity
Opportunity in an organization cannot be limited only to management. Lower level employees must see that their engagement in and support for company initiatives are rewarded with bonuses, recognition and career advancement. Include these employees in senior-level meetings, as members of cross-functional teams. This can motivate employees if they feel they are contributing to key projects in an organization.
