Motivation is an Inside Job

Posted By: Jeanie Hagen-Greene No Comments June 27, 2010

In a meeting this week a colleague and I were discussing employee motivation.  We agreed that since you “can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink,” successful supervisors and managers provide a motivating environment (so the horse wants to take a drink). 

Here are four ways to provide a motivating workplace which encourages employees to want to contribute and produce results:

1. Communicate, communicate, communicate!

• Hold regular one-on-one meetings with employees – don’t limit this to the annual performance review.  Let employees know how they are doing, and how you value their work.
• Keep employees informed about the organization.  It adds to their feeling of ‘being in on things’ – being ‘in the dark’ is scary and encourages rumors.
• Celebrate successes in team or department meetings.
• Work with employees to set and accomplish goals.  Help employees learn how to contribute and why the work they do is meaningful toward organization goals.
• Listen and get feedback.  Ask what’s going on, what employees like/dislike most about their jobs; what ideas they have for improving the department or organization.

2. Be patient and positive

• Set the tone, be a good example.
• Be flexible with change; help staff to understand they may not be able to control change, however, they can control their reaction to it.
• Focus on the good work your organization does for its customers.

3. Create opportunities

• Talk to employees about what they want; create individualized motivation plans; work with them to make the plans happen
• Make employees part of the solution to issues or problems.  Solicit their ideas – after all, who knows the job best?
• Give employees a chance to develop and use new skills – this shows you’re serious and care, and not just giving lip service.

4. Recognize employees

• Appreciation for a job well done is a primary motivator.  Praise should be: sincere, specific to the person and task, and timely. 
• Let employees know you appreciate the things they do as well as who they are and the efforts they make.

Create a positive working atmosphere using these tips, and employees will want to take big drinks of success.

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