Various studies have proven that there is a direct link between productivity and job satisfaction of the employees. If your employees are not happy and motivated to do their job, it could severely affect how the company performs annually. Therefore, it is particularly important to keep the employees motivated at work. This does not include only monetary incentives, it is possible to motivate them without dangling money in front of their eyes. In face some studies have shown that the current “millennial” generation cares less for money, but more for happiness at work, meaning providing monetary incentives for work should be your last resort.
So, keep reading as we discuss certain strategies that will help you motivate your employees to work harder, on time and be happier to be a part of your team or organization!
1. Use your words:
Communication is key to everything. The simplest, yet the most powerful way to keep your employees motivated to do their work is by communicating with them. It’s human nature to look for validation, especially from someone one perceives to be higher up in authority and power. So when you remark, “great work!” or “good job!” you are pushing them to work harder to get appreciation more often. Sometimes communication could also mean trying to get to know the employees on a personal level, which may make them feel valued or part of the team, and motivate them to work harder, and on time.
2. Make them feel they have some authority:
Many a times, companies, managers or people at higher positions don’t make their employees feel like they have any control over what they are doing. Orders are directed at them, which only demotivates them. Your employees are people,and to motivate them, they need to feel like they are a part of the company. If all they do is follow orders robotically, they will start treating the organization as an outside entity and their productivity will downgrade. Therefore, one of the strategies to keep employees motivated is to make them feel like they have some authority over projects and let them lead.
3. Make them feel important:
Employees are generally demotivated because they don’t connect well with the firm. To motivate them to work harder, complete their tasks on time and make them feel like work can be enjoyable, it is important that you ask them for their input. People like to feel that they have some power and say, and are not minuscule or useless to the company. Asking them for opinions, thoughts, ideas, and giving them more responsibility will only motivate them to want to work for the company.
4. Less work gets more done:
Imagine someone unloading a ton of work on you to complete by the end of the day. You will be completely frazzled, wondering what it is that you should complete first or how you’re supposed to finish everything in one day? Productivity will definitely go down, and half way through, so might your motivation. Similarly, if you give your employees targeted, crisp goals to complete by the end of the week, they will be able to:
a. Finish it on time
b. Do a great job at it.
Which not only increases their motivation, because they could finish their targets and do a great job at them, but also increases the quality of work produced. Always remember, slow and steady wins the race.
5. Monetary Incentives:
One of the final things you can indulge in is dangling monetary incentives. Although it increases motivation to finish the said job, but dies down once the job is done and the reward has been received. Therefore, this way of motivation could be used either as a last resort or if demanded directly by the employees, for staying back late at work and so on.
Motivation of employees is based on nothing but understanding the psychology of group. People like to feel like they are a part of a particular group. Once you tap into that aspect and make them feel like they are in group members, simple tricks like complimenting their work and giving them some power could go a long way in keeping your employees motivated to do their job.