Motivating your staff is vital to the success of your business. When your team responds positively and puts its best efforts forward, you’ll have an organization that is characterized by excellent performance and growth.
There’s a common misconception that the best way to motivate people is with cash. Compensation helps, but employees want to feel valued and appreciated above anything else. Here are some of the top ways you can keep your staff motivated and increase your business results.
Tips for Motivating Your Staff
Failing to motivate your employees could result in job dissatisfaction and unwelcome turnover. Use these five tips to keep your staff motivated.
1. Rethink Titles
One of the first things someone asks when meeting a new person is, “what do you do?” Job titles, while sometimes arbitrary, can be a source of pride and motivation for employees.
Making a few subtle changes to the job titles in your organization can change the way your team members feel about their roles. For example, instead of a “customer service representative,” you might have a “customer satisfaction specialist.”
2. Offer Flex Time
Even if you can’t offer larger compensation packages, you can motivate your staff by giving them some flexibility. Work-life balance is a significant issue for many employees, so providing ways to juggle childcare, medical appointments, or just much-needed time off would be appreciated.
You have plenty of options with flex time. You can allow employees to arrive and leave work when they choose, as long as they work a full shift. Another option is to award some flex hours for a job well done. Or, you can go to a 4-day work week or allow partial telecommuting.
3. Empower Employees
Every employee wants to feel as if they are valued as an individual instead of being seen as just another cog in the wheel. Instead of giving staff a long list of rules and regulations (a few are fine), empower them to get things done, and come up with new ways to serve clients.
Going further, employees should feel comfortable coming to management with new ideas or concerns. Since most people spend a majority of their time at work, they should feel at ease there.
4. Host Theme Days
People like to have fun at work, and a little levity is going to keep your staff motivated to continue doing what needs to be done for the business. Chose some fun events, like theme workdays, that will create a positive and bonding experience.
Have everyone represent their favorite NFL team in September or dress for Mardis Gras in the spring. Combine the theme days with office decorations and a potluck lunch. Brainstorm ideas with your staff to choose something exciting for your business on a monthly or quarterly basis.
5. Recognize and Reward
Recognition and rewards are incredible motivators. You can develop an internal rewards policy, but make sure you formalize it and announce the parameters to your staff.
At regular intervals, recognize and reward staff for work that has exceeded expectations. The rewards or gifts you choose don’t have to be extravagant, but they should be thoughtful and appropriate.
When you prioritize motivating your staff, you’ll undoubtedly see a positive change in your business results. If your organization is looking for a commercial space or would like to upgrade its current one, Carolina Services Inc. (CSI) can help. For nearly 45 years, we have been helping businesses in the Charleston, SC area with commercial projects that fit their needs and budget. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
