3 Tips to Motivate Your Employees
3 Tips to Motivate Your Employees
We all need motivation: motivation to go to the gym, motivation to get that big project done, motivation to visit your in-laws, the list goes on. Believe it or not, your staff needs motivation as well—to help your business be as successful as possible. It is common for employees to see their job as just a paycheck. They clock in, go through the motions, clock out, repeat. They are not going to be as excited about your business as you are, simply because they don’t own it themselves. You built your business from the ground up, and of course you are going to have a different kind of drive for success. So how can you spark your employees’ enthusiasm to deliver the best service to your customers? How can you encourage upselling or pushing a new product? How can you ensure they have your business’s best interests at heart? Let’s talk about 3 surefire tips that’ll motivate your employees to get to work!
- Incentivize
We put this one first because it is the most obvious. Employee incentives, such as gift cards, merchandise, or vacation time, are the most tried-and-true method for driving performance. Humans love goals—relationship goals, sports goals, New Year’s Resolution goals, you name it. Setting a goal and establishing a reward for it is one incredibly easy, undoubtedly successful way to motivate your employees. An even better strategy is to introduce a little friendly competition into the situation. Employees can “compete” (in a friendly way, of course) to have the most credit card sign-ups or sell the most cocktail specials. When you couple competition with rewards, it’s a win-win situation.
One important thing to keep in mind as you work through your goals and incentives: make sure what you’re asking for is attainable. No one wants to strive to reach a goal that’s impossible to meet.
- Work-Life Balance
Recognizing the importance of work-life balance is critical today, especially as more and more workers find it harder to “turn off” their 9-5. We are constantly connected, constantly being asked to work after hours, constantly expected to be at our employers’ beck and call. A poor work-life balance increases stress and burnout, key factors in the dissatisfaction of workers. Show—and prove to—your employees that you take their personal life seriously. They are not married to your business, and it’s not fair to expect that they bend to your every whim. In displaying your care and concern for a work-life balance, you’ll be surprised at just how much your employees are willing to go the extra mile when you need it most. Make it your priority to value their personal time.
- Recognize their Effort
In the workplace, a little really does go a long way. One reason? Your employees aren’t expecting recognition for simply doing their job. When they get kudos from the boss, it motivates them to reach even further in their performance. The hardest workers are the ones who feel appreciated. Recognition for a job well done is the first step.
While there are many, many ways to motivate your employees, these top 3 picks are methods you can implement quickly and easily—and the results will speak for themselves. Looking for more great entrepreneurial tips for your small business? Be sure to check out The Pantry every week for fresh topics created just for you.