In the current economic atmosphere, your employees may be wondering if they’ll have a job next week. Add to that being asked to pick up the slack from employees who have been laid off and they may be in a bit of a slump. Your employees may feel unmotivated and unproductive, but there are things you can do to boost morale in your workplace.
Try these techniques
to bring more motivation to your workplace:
1.
Get to know your employees. Do you know them on
a personal level or just as professionals? When you meet with one of your employees
one-on-one is it “strictly business,” or do you take the time to get to know
who they are as an individual? When you make an effort to learn more about
them, you may discover what motivates them. It also makes them feel valued.
- Recognize
your employees’ birthdays. The employees in your office will be
glad that you care enough about them to recognize their special day.
- Ask about their lives outside of work. How did they spend the weekend? Where are they going on vacation this year? These types of questions help you get to know them as individuals.
2.
Recognize personal and professional accomplishments. You
might be surprised how an employee is motivated when they know their manager acknowledges
and rewards the work they’ve done.
- Recognize
them publicly. During team meetings
acknowledge those who have gone above and beyond. Make sure there is always at least one
person acknowledged during each meeting.
This not only motivates the person who is being recognized, but
also motivates others who want to get the same appreciation.
- Write them a personal thank you note recognizing their contribution when they have stepped outside their usual job duties, or done they regular job exceptionally well. Thank you notes – not an email – are something out of the ordinary these days and show that their contribution was significant enough, and appreciated enough, for you to make the effort to write one.
3.
Schedule time for team socializing. There is
some socializing done at team meetings, but scheduling time for the team to
just socialize allows them to get to know one another better personally. When your
team knows and likes one another, they feel more motivated to help each other
and do a good job. Plus, taking a break
from work is a good way to reduce stress and return refreshed. Scheduling a weekly team lunch or weekly
non-alcoholic happy hour on Friday afternoon are a couple of ideas.
4.
Give them a voice. Create a satisfaction survey. These may even be done anonymously. Be
sure to address any perceived problems quickly and thoroughly for the best
results.
- Hold
staff meetings regularly. This will give staff an opportunity to
learn about the company’s status as well as voice any questions they may
have. Ask for feedback if changes have to be made.
- Ask others what type of training they may need to do their job better. By offering continuing training, you’ll prove that your team is valuable to you, and you’ll do your business a great service by having top-notch, highly trained workers.
5.
Offer financial rewards. Everyone likes to get a
little extra in his or her paycheck from time to time. Perhaps there’s a way to
incorporate a performance bonus to boost morale.
- Talk with the employees and get their ideas. Seriously consider putting a rewards program into place. You may be surprised at what they come up with, and it might not be as expensive as you imagined!
When morale and productivity begin to wane, it’s
important to let your employees know you value them. Sure, they get
paid for the work they do every week, but sometimes they need a little
pick-me-up.
Rewards don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. A little
bit of recognition can go a long way to improving the atmosphere in your
workplace.
Give them the respect they deserve. Use these ways of boosting
morale in the workplace and before you know it, your employees will have smiles
on their faces and motivation on their mind!
For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).
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