Although it is up to each of us to self-motivate, when you run a business, you need to take an element of responsibility for keeping your team focussed and driven. The more motivated your workforce is, the harder it will work – which can only benefit you in the long run.
Whether you are having issues with particular individuals or merely want to try a different management approach, there are many things you can do that should give the desired results. Here are 3 ways to keep your employees motivated at work.
Flexible working conditions
One of the best ways to get staff to go above and beyond for you is to provide an element of flexibility. Flexible working is far more common these days anyway, particularly since Covid-19 so, if you want to motivate your staff, consider implementing changes that might benefit their situation.
An example of this would be working from home a few days a week where necessary or offering more flexible working hours – which can be a godsend for working parents with school-aged children. Determine what may be beneficial for each of your employees’ circumstances and implement changes as you see fit. Encourage feedback and discuss any areas they may be struggling with, either logistically or otherwise. You may be shocked at the difference flexible working conditions can make – not only to individuals but to your whole organization.
Training and knowledge 
Knowing your job inside out and having everything you need to carry it out effectively can be very motivating. The opposite scenario can lead to frustration, lack of job satisfaction and is also likely to affect overall performance.
If structured training is non-existent in your organization, then it’s time to do something about it. Training and procedure manuals are very useful – but make sure they are updated regularly, or they will be pretty pointless.
Knowledge management is another option worth considering. It consists of a single IT system that gives users the ability to store and retrieve knowledge, ideas, experiences, and a wealth of information about your business. It can become a fabulous resource for employees and give them the tools and motivation they need to do their jobs more efficiently.
Reward hard work
If you are looking for a sure-fire way to motivate your staff, rewarding them for their efforts is likely to do the trick. They do, of course, already get paid a salary to do a job, but if you want them to go above and beyond and be more motivated than ever before, give something back in return.
The most common way to do this is by setting targets or KPIs for each team member and offering either a monetary sum or some form of reward when they hit or surpass them. Rewards could be anything from a bottle of wine to an overnight stay in a hotel. Setting targets and offering rewards will keep them focussed on long-term aims, are known to increase productivity, and may even be the only motivator they will ever need.
