Every organization needs highly motivated and hard-working employees capable of taking the organization to new heights of success. Here are 10 effective ways to improve the motivation levels of employees:
A research conducted by Gallup showed that having a poorly motivated workforce costs US companies up to $550 billion annually.
Moreover, low motivation also results in 61% more employee burnout at the workplace, which directly impacts workforce efficiency and business productivity.
1. Improve the Overall Work Environment
2. Work towards Understanding Employee Behavior
3. Promote a Sense of Ownership
4. Provide Appropriate Growth Opportunities
5. Invest in Employee Skill Development and Training
6. Provide Regular and Honest Feedback
7. Acknowledge and Appreciate Employee Efforts
8. Seek Employee Involvement in Decision-making
9. Understand Employee Needs and Expectations
10, Make them part of every Celebration of Success
Employees feel happy and satisfied to work in an environment that is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and fun to be at.
To ensure this, organizations should keep the workspaces neat, clean, well-maintained, and well-lit.
They should replace outdated office equipment and integrate technology into everyday operations.
It is also a good idea to invest in good artwork and ergonomically designed furniture to spruce up the workspace.
It is quite common for employees to display preferred behavior patterns at work simply to please their superiors.
However, this can lead to frustration over time which can hamper the efficiency of employees.
It is therefore important for organizations to promote an open and collaborative environment where employees can show their actual behavior.
Hence, it can improve the motivation levels of employees considerably.
Promoting a sense of ownership can prevent employees from developing a tunnel vision about their duties and timelines.
Hence, it motivates them to treat organizational goals as their own. This helps enhance employee productivity naturally.
Therefore, to ensure the same, organizations need to educate each employee about the critical role they play in enhancing organizational growth.
Also, all employees should be provided with appropriate growth opportunities for their specific skills and competency levels.
Hence, it assures employees that the organization truly cares for them, motivating them to put in their best efforts for business growth.
Helping employees acquire new skills can improve their overall performance and efficiencies, as well as motivate them.
It assures employees that the organization is interested in their professional growth. It is also preparing them for greater responsibilities in the future.
Hence, they can use the new knowledge and skills from the training programs to contribute to the business.
Letting employees know how well they have performed is essential to keep them motivated to improve their performance.
Organizations should provide positive feedback publicly, while any negative feedback should be offered in person and in a subtle manner.
So, it is better to focus on the positive aspects of the employee’s work and discuss the areas of development as opportunities.
Additionally, employee rewards and recognition are one of the most effective ways to keep the members of the workforce motivated.
Hence, appreciating their contributions and achievements can inspire them to repeat the good work until it becomes an everyday habit.
This can also motivate their peers, creating a truly appreciative and positive work culture.
Almost every decision made by the management of an organization tends to impact the employees directly or indirectly.
Therefore, allowing employees to have a say in decision-making can go a long way in enhancing their motivation levels.
Hence, seeking their opinions and suggestions about specific decisions will make them feel more engaged and committed.
Even the best motivation strategies may fail if organizations make no effort to understand the needs and expectations of their employees.
Hence, understanding individual motivation factors can help organizations to keep them inspired and engaged effectively.
Most organizations find it surprising how the things they consider trivial and unimportant can deeply impact the motivation levels of employees.
Sharing success with employees is another effective way in which organizations can keep their employees motivated.
It helps in building a deep sense of belonging among employees, even if they have not directly contributed to that particular project or work.
Implementing these strategies can help organizations improve the motivation levels of employees ensure that employees consider themselves to be valuable assets, and work towards driving business growth and profitability.
Lead author: Sagar Chaudhuri, the Co-Founder and CEO of HiFives. He is an HR Tech Evangelist with over 25 years of experience in the corporate world and entrepreneurship. In the past, Sagar has worked with companies such as Genpact, Infosys, and ICICI Bank, in leadership roles. He has an engineering degree from IIT Kharagpur and an MBA from IIM Lucknow. Connect on LinkedIn
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