What is the easiest way to motivate your team members? Money of course is the biggest motivator. But can you afford to give out raises to motivate them every time? No, none of us can, especially in today’s economy.
So how else can you put the drive and determination into their daily efforts? Actually it is rather simple when you think about it, and most of the time these methods last much longer in the employee’s mind than the raise or bonus will last.
One of the greatest motivators is praise, recognition, or attention. If your employee meets a goal you or they have set for themselves, it is an achievement. Announce it to their co-workers. What may seem like a small goal to you is a big accomplishment for them. Get excited with them! Why don’t we do that now? Most likely as managers we don’t get this treatment from our supervisors when we reach an objective. But if we start this process, we will find it to be the cheapest motivator we don’t have to pay for from our bottom line! It could be something as simple as a memo sent around via e-mail, or posted for everyone to read, a newsletter announcement, or even during a meeting, a round of applause after bringing recognition to the accomplishment.
Providing a work atmosphere that is comfortable and supportive is another way of keeping employee’s spirits high. How many have heard of the facilities Google has for their employee’s? In some areas they have bean bag chairs and couches instead of tables and chairs in areas throughout the buildings because as the management team says ideas don’t happen only at your desk, game rooms set up in area, and free food in the cafeteria. Now we all are not Google and can afford to have facilities like Google, but we can make our work space a place that our employee’s feel supported and happy to come to work and put forth the effort. Give your employee’s flexibility in balancing your work life and home life. Can you allow them a flexible schedule, how about telecommuting, or free snacks? Maybe a small change but that small change goes a long way.
Training is another motivational tool that can be used. Whether it is one-on-one training, review training, strengthen the skills they have now training, or career path training. Invest some time with the employee’s shows you care, it is easy for people to forget how much you care. One-on-one training done in public helps motivate other employee’s around this training, allowing them to see the care and commitment you are putting forth. But an investment in your employee’s pays off greatly.
Make work fun and competitive. Set goals for your employee’s, small milestones, and reward them when they reach these goals with ½ hour paid time off, let them use it to come in a little late, leave a little early or have an extended lunch.
Surprise and reward your team with cookies, or pizza one day for a little energizer for your team members. Or don’t surprise them, plan it out let them know and watch the excitement grow.
Simple when you stop and think about the returns on your investments, isn’t it? Stop by Costco or a club warehouse and buy a box of little bags of chips, set it up in your area and watch the smile and the efforts improve.
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