The better your workers are performing, the more your business will grow. And the happier your workers are, the harder they are likely to work. In the dog days of summer, it’s easy for inspiration among your team to start lagging. But motivating your workers, and therefore boosting performance, can be easily done, with a few simple and inexpensive ideas. Below are some of the top ideas for motivating workers:
1) Promote work-life balance
By allowing your workers flexibility when it comes to medical appointments, family issues, and having a life outside of work, you will be taking a lot of stress off of them. In turn, you are likely to be rewarded by better productivity and less employee turnover. Other ways to motivate your workers by promoting their work-life balance include implementing casual dress days, allowing them the option to work remotely if possible, providing snacks, and buying lunch for the office from time to time.
2) Be a power of example
One of the easiest ways to motivate your workers, as well as yourself, is by simply expressing your own excitement about company projects and goals. Always keep employees apprised of the progress their work is making towards company goals, and the bright future that is ahead for both the company and everyone that works there.
3) Create a positive and inspiring office atmosphere
There are many simple things you can do to make your office atmosphere more uplifting and motivating for your workers. First, giving employees more personal space will allow them to relax and work more efficiently. Second, adjusting the temperature and lighting in your office to a comfortable level will keep your workers more alert (and therefore more productive). Finally, decorate the office with fun furniture and pictures on the wall. You can also display pictures of employees at company events, employee recognition awards, news clips of the company, and anything else you may think will give your workers that jolt of inspiration they need when the 3 pm lull arrives.
4) Show that you are invested in your employees’ futures
If workers feel they are in a dead-end job, they are likely to lose motivation. So take an interest in their future careers, by offering training, giving them goals to work towards, and exciting projects that will give them more skills to add to their resumes. Continuing professional growth is essential to motivating workers.
5) Offer rewards to workers
Give your workers the extra boost of motivation they need by offering incentives now and then, such as paid days off, cash bonuses, free gym memberships, or even small gifts such as tickets to a sports game, or fun desktop accessories. This will help them appreciate their own value as employees, and motivate them to continue the same level of hard work moving forward.
6) Be a good listener
Your workers will be more motivated to contribute to the company’s success if they feel their voice is being heard. Encourage your employees to come to you with any ideas they have that will improve the company’s bottom line, or make their job easier or more useful. If your workers feel they have a voice, they will feel they are of value to the company.
Author: Jessica Cody
Jessica Cody, a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut, has a background in online marketing and public relations. Currently, she works at VHMNetwork LLC in the role of Marketing Analyst. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she studied Journalism and Political Science. She is also an avid runner with a passion for the outdoors.
