A bold statement, to be sure. However, it really is not so difficult to motivate and energize a workforce, so long as the one leading it is willing to put in the work.
Happy workers are productive workers, that is no secret. But what’s the secret to motivating a group of employees to work hard and make all of you more successful?
Lead By Example
Expecting an employee to work hard or behave in certain ways is a lofty goal for those who do not lead by example. Many employees view the manager as a paper pusher – someone who sets schedules, micromanages, and is generally just a pain to be around.
However, if a manager can put themselves in an employee’s shoes for a moment – what might cause them to work harder or act properly? Well, seeing the leadership do the same thing as they are, first off. Next, a manager actually showing excitement about company goals and being successful would be a good addition.
Everyone can appreciate a good mood and a good outlook in the workplace. Good moods are infectious.
Empower the Team
In many industries, and in many companies, employees are kept on a rather short leash. There are designated times for everything to be done, and the monotony of it all beings to wear on everyone.
Instead, it may be pertinent to give the employees more power over their own positions. Ask for input, getting suggestions on how they can improve their performance is key. A lot of employees have ideas on how to work more efficiently, but rarely come forward with them, and a simple question may suffice.
Don’t just listen – implement. If an employee has a great idea, take it and run with it. This helps the business in several different ways, not the least of which being that employees will constantly be looking for new ways to be efficient.
Offer Training and Guidance
Employees should be considered works in progress, people who are always growing and changing. Adapting to new and strange roles to them is commonplace in a lot of industries, but very few businesses actually offer opportunity for advancement.
The facts are that nobody wants to work a dead-end job, so why stick people in them? Of course, not everyone is fit for advancement, but there are a lot of employees out there who work incredibly hard and are never rewarded for it.
Offering training and guidance that will give your employees the skills they need to climb, or simply polishing already existing skills, will motivate them to do even more in the future.
Communication is Key
Probably the single most important thing here – communication is paramount. If you lack good communication skills, and are nigh-unreachable by your employees, what motivation could they possibly have?
The importance of communicating with your employees is often overlooked. Every individual employee needs to know that they are valued. So actually speak to them, remember their names and faces, be an actual human being instead of a mystery person behind an email address.