Importance of Employee Motivation
Do you know what inspires your employees? As an employer, it is a part of your job to be aware. Employee motivation not only involves providing a pay cheque, it is about constructing the right workplace culture and providing a positive experience. Your employees should not be there to check in, check out, and then go home. They should be dedicated towards the success of your business.
Main Reasons to Motivate Your Employees
There are numerous advantages to motivating your employees. When you take the time to create a bright workplace culture and employee experience, you will find:
Increased Productivity;
Better Performance; and
Higher Retention.
Employee Motivation is not only About the Incentives and Perks
When business owners think about what motivates their employees to do what is expected, there are a couple of points that often come up. The first, being that its about increasing their pay and second, as providing more employee perks. While both are highly motivating factors, there are additional strategies for enhancements without spending more than youve budgeted.
20 Ways to Motivate Employees for Small Business Without Budget
Driving staff motivation doesnt mean that you have to increase your spend, especially when you own a small business and dont have the funds for it. While incentives and work benefits are effective strategies to motivate an employee, here are 20 ways that will not cost you additional dollars.
1. Communicate openly and be transparent
2. Introduce an open door policy
3. Fulfill your promises
4. Construct a cooperative community-like culture
5. Get to know your staff as people
6. Understand your employees ambitions
7. Provide guidance or coaching
8. Let your staff take the lead and/or give them autonomy
9. Include staff in decision-making conversations
10. Consult your employees for their ideas
11. Encourage learning opportunities often
12. Define individual targets and provide support to achieve them
13. Extend specific and sincere praise (sometimes a simple thank you means a lot)
14. Have recognition or kudos wall in a public area
15. Focus on positivity, rather than criticisms
16. Reduce workplace negativity
17. Provide work-life balance
18. Agree to flexible work hours
19. Volunteer together
20. Ask for feedback and suggestions to make improvements