TOP 10 PROVEN TECHNIQUES FOR MOTIVATING EMPLOYEES

SIMPLE METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

It’s no secret that satisfied employees take more ownership of company projects and are more dedicated workers which makes businesses more successful. However, businesses across the country are still trying to figure out how to enhance employee happiness. Here is a list of 10 proven techniques for motivating employees:

1. PUBLIC PRAISE/RECOGNITION

            Besides being a proven way to enhance an employee’s commitment to your company, this is a great free way to highlight hard work by a particular team member. However, executives must be careful not to over-praise or under-praise hard work because of the adverse effects on either side. Over-praising will dilute the value of the recognition and could result in employees ignoring praise. However, under-praise can make the executive seem reclusive and apathetic towards their team’s efforts.

2. HAVING INPUT

            Believe it or not, most employees are willing to voice their opinion and have a desire to be heard. A key component in the motivational process is letting employees know that as their work improves and they advance, they become more vital to the organization and are therefore given more input into company policies and best practices.

3. EXTRA PTO

            Getting ahead in business often means sacrificing time to work late on projects. One great way to motivate your employees to take on such tasks is to offer extra PTO for employees who are seen putting in the extra hours. Chances are, these employees will still work twice as hard to meet their deadlines and will feel appreciated knowing that their efforts are recognized. You might even suggest they Your Perfect Atlantic City Night Out

4. SPECIAL PROJECTS

            Every company has projects or initiatives that are more sought after than others and offering exclusive access to these projects can be a great way to motivate your employees to work towards the goal of their ideal project. This is a win-win for executives as well because the result is that the most motivated employees gain access to the most coveted projects.

5. BONUSES

            Believe it or not, most employees are actually more motivated to work based off of other elements than pay, but that doesn’t mean that monetary bonuses should be avoided. Bonuses can be done in the form of structured contests or they can occur at random whenever executives feel a particular employee has earned one.

6. SHOW OFF WORK

If your company is one that provides a good or service, a great way to motivate your employees is to showcase the work of your top performers. Not only does this highlight the great work being done, but it also serves as a reminder to the rest of the staff of what is possible. New ideas are often inspired out of seeing great work done by colleagues.

7. COMFORTABLE SURROUNDINGS

            Employees are oftentimes more motivated when their physical surroundings are to their liking. With the standard 40-hour work week occupying 1,920 hours at work per year, it’s important for employers to create comfortable and bright work environments to eliminate workers getting burned out. For even more comfortable surroundings, you could take your employees on a retreat to Long Island.

8. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

            Professional development can be a powerful tool in motivating employees by providing the opportunity for employees to expand their skill set and increase professional knowledge. Allowing employees to further their development can also broaden their sense of perspective. Don’t be surprised if your employees come back from professional development with great new ideas for your company.

9. CAREER ADVANCEMENT

            Employees are more likely to be motivated when they understand that the company culture is to advance those who are willing to put in the time and effort to grow the business. This is also a great way to hold on to talented employees. The best way to maintain your brightest team members is to create a culture where career advancement happens to those who benefit the company internally.

10. AT WORK DOWN TIME

            People are not robots and so it’s best not to treat them that way. It can be a positive team building experience to offer your employees some time or events to take their mind off work. This can build camaraderie in employees as well as provide time for them to recharge their batteries. Think about creating a fun space within the office or hosting a special no-work afternoon.

What other techniques have you found to motivate employees? As an employee, what’s your dream motivation? Leave us a comment below.

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