While
money is often mistaken as the best motivator in organizations; studies have
shown that non-financial incentives motivate employees way better than money.
Workload
and management policies have only gotten stringent, with high employee turnover
rates in almost all sectors.
Despite
sky-high salaries, successful employees are still leaving their jobs, citing
lack of conducive environments and work-life balance as the reason.
Read Also: 13 Ways To Motivate Your Team Members for Better Performance
If
you are in management, looking to stem this tide, here are a few tips to be
kept in mind in this regard. They are highly effective and easy to implement,
without having to blow your budget wide open:
1. Appreciate employee’s work
Management
often makes the mistake of not acknowledging productivity. Ensure that you nip
this issue in the bud by publicly congratulating him on his efficiency. Awards
like ‘Employee Of The Month’ go a long way in motivating staff to achieve more.
An atmosphere where you make your employees feel valued and appreciated is far more productive. It cements his resolve to take on more work and make a name for himself.
Timely assessments of employee performance cheering the top performers would make an impression throughout the staff.
You
can motivate low performing employees to strive harder and reach the level of
their successful peers in this manner. Commend them when this happens and let
the domino effect happen.
2. Promotions
Reward
best performing employees with promotions. This is a tremendous boost for
employees as they will have goals and positions set in order. A well-planned
hierarchy in the organization, where employees are assured of being promoted
when they perform well.
You
may award promotions based on annual reviews. When employees have done an
excellent job which were of enormous benefit to the company, amid year
promotion can also be considered for them.
This
would show the staff that you are always on the lookout for high-performance
stars and motivate them ahead.
3. Job Security
Nothing
motivates an employee like knowing that his job cannot be taken away at a whim.
Providing him with job security would enhance his standing and respect in the
organization.
It would also make him feel valued and integral to the company’s performance. You will find such an employee ready to take personal responsibility for operations under his control.
Let
them know that the management is always ready to support him, no matter what.
With such an adequate support system in place, your employees are less likely
to switch companies, since they would find this work culture highly appealing
and irreplaceable.
4. Maintain Relationships
If you can maintain a personal relationship with an employee, you’re doing better than 90% of typical management staff. Often overlooked, this doesn’t even have to be time-consuming.
An occasional chat about family, finances, kids, friends, sports et cetera that is personal in nature would make the employee feel close to the management.
Take
them out for dinner and stay informal outside office proceedings. Offer career
guidance and help when they need it. See to it that your employees feel safe
enough to approach you on any issue without hesitation.
You
could be an extraordinary manager, with well-satisfied employees if you
ardently follow this tip.
5. Community Activities
Events like picnics, visits to tourist places, charitable deeds done together with employees can make them feel important to the organization. Try taking employees out as often as possible for new experiences.
Such moments can be terrific for bonding and improving relations between employees and managers.
Organize
activities for the whole staff, like taking them for a sports game or a trip
for the weekend. In the office, ensure recreational rooms where staff can relax
and bond with others. You should provide facilities for indoor and outdoor
games.
There could also be clubs for skill enhancement formed by employees. Set aside a time period, like Friday or Saturday afternoons, where they are allowed to engage in these activities in office.
Once
an employee is comfortable with all members and the friendly atmosphere, he
will choose to stay put in the same office, even if there are better
opportunities outside the firm. Proper company culture can be a huge factor in
reducing employee turnover.
6. Reward high performers with flexible schedules
Achieving a Work-Life balance has become something of a myth in the 21st century. With several high performers burning out, ensure your staff does not fall prey to this disease.
Reward the best employees with time off. Allow them to prepare their schedules and deadlines. Don’t micromanage them as this can kill off their zeal and enthusiasm.
Read Also: How to Improve Policy Implementation at Workplace
It
would be best if you granted several incentives for high achievers such as the
freedom to choose their own responsibilities, subject to approval, etc. Also,
try to help them select and set out on their own paths that would benefit the
company as well.
On
seeing this, even low performers would be enthused, and they will be full of
passion for reaching the same level and accessing the same freedoms.
7. Competitive Environments
High
achievers are known to dull down in the lack of a stimulating work environment.
Make a note of your office’s top performers and enquire if they would like
additional responsibilities.
Ensure
they are clubbed together for the most daunting tasks and provide them with
sufficient challenges. It is a great way to boost office productivity as well
as keep your office gems satisfied with their jobs.
If
you create an exclusive circle of high achievers, naturally other employees
would be curious as well. They would be motivated by a desire to join this
elite group of high achievers. This would be beneficial for both the company
and the employee.
8. Take one-on-one meetings
Once
a month, sit down with your employees and interview them about their jobs. Ask
them questions about their work, their satisfaction levels, whether they would
like more challenges, whether they have any opinions on the current system,
know their grievances and if anything could be done to enhance their
experience.
Ensure
that you gain as much knowledge as possible and note down relevant insights.
Resolve any apprehensions they may have and provide assurance that the company
has their back. This will win you loyal and trustworthy employees in the long
run.
9.Suggestion System
Use
an efficient suggestion system, like a public box where employees can drop off
any remarks, preferably anonymously. Go through each remark in detail and take
their feedback seriously.
Applaud
helpful suggestions in public and implement them. This would increase feedback
rates, and soon, you will find a whole new list of problems that you had no
idea about before. Honest and direct feedback from employees can be utilized to
improve efficiency.
During
meetings, you should encourage employees to provide their insights into
projects. This would give them a role in the decision-making process, following
which, they will be much more motivated to work on the project as it was their
plan too.
10. Provide a proper path for career growth
Most
employees grow disillusioned when their career begins to stagnate. You must
take well-planned steps to prevent it. This would inform the employees their
important targets, on the accomplishment of which, they will be able to advance
further.
We
have often seen this strategy to work wonders, with employee efficiency levels
rising, post-implementation.
Once
employees know where they stand and the path to take to advance, they will not
hesitate to improve the quality of their work.
11. Group incentives
Dealing with non-performers and bad team players can be quite daunting. To solve this issue, provide only group incentives. The group size must remain small though, with all members knowing each other well.
Such an environment, where employees are accountable to their groups as well, would boost morale and enhance team spirit.
Dividing
staff into teams would also increase a sense of competitiveness. It would
energize the teams to work harder and be the best in office, much like we see
in sports. The best team could be provided several benefits like special
privileges.
You
can also make a note of effective team leaders, who can be considered for
leadership positions in the company. Members of the winning team can also be
put on the fast track list for promotions.
Bright
stars in failed teams can be identified and appropriately nurtured since
competition tends to bring out the best in everyone.
The
usual bottlenecks can be successfully removed since everybody would be eager to
finish off their tasks and gain as a one, stable and prosperous group.
12. Constructive criticism
It
is crucial not to criticize your employees outright when they don’t perform
well. Instead, speak to them privately and understand their needs. Help them
out with any troubles they’re facing and provide skill training in case they
need it.
Take
steps to show them how they can improve their work and be patient during the
process. Everybody picks up at their speed, and there can be instances where
even top performers can be brought down to their knees.
In
all such cases, get to the roots of the problem and provide helpful,
constructive criticism where required.
Read Also: How to Improve Employee Attendance at Work
An
employee would be willing to own up to his faults and improve his work if
nudged along the right path properly.
Conclusion
Implementation of these steps would boost morale among your employees significantly. Money doesn’t buy everything; sometimes, it’s the experience and atmosphere you provide that compels employees to work better.
Ensure a great work environment where they feel valued and are genuinely happy, and watch your office productivity rates top the charts.