If you are here, you are looking for effective ways to motivate employees. Well, the first step is not to assume that your employees are leaving the company because of money. If that’s the case, then think again. Your employees are probably leaving because of you.
No offense. But, half of the employees leave the company because of their manager. That’s something I saw many times while working in human resources.
The good news is that I’m giving you a list of ways to motivate your team that is easy to implement in your business, department, or group. More importantly, it helps you create a better work environment before it’s too late.
In this article, we are covering the following topics:
- Bad effects of lack of motivation in the workplace
- The relationship between motivation and employee engagement
- What motivates employees?
- How to motivate employees? (successfully!)
- A list of 25 ways to motivate employees
- Get the Free PDF version of this post!!
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Employees leave companies for numerous reasons
If I were to ask you to name some of the most common reasons, you would probably say more money, better benefits, new baby, better job opportunity, moving out of state, getting a better schedule, more job flexibility, or to be closer to home.
But, what about the unmotivated employees who are trying to escape from your work environment?
Bad effects of lack of motivation in the workplace
Before we start evaluating the ways to motivate employees, you need to understand the consequences of having lack of motivation in the workplace.
According to a Gallup study, one in two employees leaves their job to get away from their manager. That’s an alarming 50% of the employees! However, that statistic doesn’t surprise me. Especially, after working in human resources for more than ten years.
The lack of motivation in the workplace may not sound like an important or serious problem. That’s why companies often ignore the problem. But, ignoring this problem only brings negative consequences to your business such as:
Higher turnover
Nobody likes to suffer and that includes your employees. Unmotivated employees will look for another company where they can feel happy, challenged, and useful. They will look for a company that gives them a meaningful reason to go to work.
Increase in absenteeism
Unmotivated employees will try to stay away from your workplace as much as possible. That’s when they start calling in sick on Mondays trying to extend their weekends. Every year, they plan to use all their available paid time off. It includes vacation, sick time, personal, etc.
Lower productivity
Unhappy employees don’t care about exceeding their job expectations or goals. They only put the minimum effort required to keep their jobs until they can get away from your workplace. Not just that. They also try to influence new employees and top performers to do less.
Poor customer service
We have all experienced poor customer service. People expect a customer service department to be respectful, attentive, and helpful. Missing one of these factors increases the possibility of losing customers. Rest assured that each bad experience is shared with about 12 other people. And in some cases, with more than 20. Ouch! As you can see, having different ways to motivate employees not only benefits your employees but, your customers too.
Increases accidents
This negative effect is usually overlooked. But, think about it. Unhappy employees are more vulnerable to have accidents because they are having other things in mind. They are not paying attention to the potential safety hazards around them. Instead, they are thinking of the resume they submitted to another company last week or the promising phone interview they had during lunch time.
Creates more conflicts between employees
This is similar to the situation of an unhappy customer. Something that I have seen many times and even experienced it myself!
In two separate occasions, I started working in an HR department that had an unhappy employee. On both occasions, the unhappy employees immediately started sharing the bad stories with me during my first week of employment. In one case, it even occurred on my very first day!
I didn’t quit. But, employees from other departments did because of other unhappy employees. Imagine. Who would want to work in a place with such a terrible supervisor, co-workers, or work environment?
Unhappy employees use their spare time to gossip with others and to create conflict. And since they are already unhappy and irritated, situations escalate faster than normal.
Bottom line
Implementing effective ways to motivate employees reduces the bad effects of lack of motivation. However, identifying the problem is as important as fixing it.
Many supervisors want to “solve” the problem in the fastest way (but not the best one) by terminating the employees.
But, does that solve the problem? No. Because in this case, you are NOT solving the problem, which is the lack of motivation. You need to reconnect, engage, and motivate employees.
The great news is that there are many ways to motivate employees. So, just keep reading. 😊
The relationship between motivation and employee engagement
It is impossible to talk about motivated employees without talking about employee engagement. Your ultimate goal should be to have as many engaged employees as possible. But, you need to motivate them first.
Therefore, we need to learn about employee engagement when looking for ways to motivate employees.
Gallup is a research-based company that provides analytics and advice to leaders. They help them to better understand their individuals, teams, and organizations.
That company has identified three types of employees: engaged, not engaged, and actively disengaged. In case that you are not familiar with those terms, let me tell you quickly the characteristics of each of them.
Three types of employees
Engaged employees are connected to the company and work with passion. They are willing to take on new challenges, go above and beyond, have a great attitude towards your company, collaborate, want to learn and help, trust management, and they are enthusiastic, committed, and loyal.
Now, you understand why your goal should be to have as many engaged employees in your workplace as possible.
On the other hand, not-engaged employees put time but don’t put energy or passion into their work. In other words, these are the ones that just show up to work.
Not engaged employees are not interested in helping the company, have lack of motivation, don’t want to try new tasks, are always ready to take their breaks, and don’t show any initiative.
Lastly, actively disengaged employees are unhappy at work and are acting out their unhappiness. They also undermine what engaged workers accomplish. Expect for them to criticize your new ways to motivate employees.
Disengaged employees are constantly gossiping and complaining, making excuses, having attendance issues, not wanting to help anybody, exhibiting bad attitude and negativity, not trusting management or the company, having an unsatisfactory performance, and creating more conflicts in your workplace.
In summary, understanding each type of employee helps you to better evaluate your company’s environment. In that way, you can choose the best ways to motivate your employees.
Now, let’s take a look at the statistics…
Some employee motivation statistics
If you think that your workplace is exempt from disengaged employees, look at these statistics from Gallup:
- Only 33% of US employees are engaged
- 51% of employees are actively looking for a new job
- 85% of the employees worldwide are not engaged or actively disengaged
- A small percentage, 25%, of employees in US manufacturing is engaged
And those in the US manufacturing industry are experiencing a deeper employee disengagement since only 25% of employees are considered engaged. That’s why I had to constantly work with management in finding ways to decrease their turnover rate. I asked supervisors and managers the same question: why are employees leaving? The common answer I received was: Money.
That can be true in some cases but, it’s not the whole truth.
Data shows that more of your engaged employees would stay with your company even if they can get 20% more money at another company.
That’s the power of motivation and employee engagement!
What motivates employees?
The importance of motivating employees is not new. But, even though people have been talking about it for years, many businesses still fail to implement ways to motivate employees.
Throughout the years, several theories have tried to explain the basics of what motivate employees and how the motivational process works. As a business, learning about these theories helps you to better understand and apply your motivational techniques.
Three popular motivational theories
These motivational theories talk about people being motivated by different factors. Let’s take a look at each of them:
First, the Vroom’s Expectancy Theory. It says that people behaves based on the effort required, rewards expected to receive, and the value perceived. Therefore, it assumes that people choose their behavior based on the expected outcome.
Another theory is the Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory which is also called the Motivation-Hygiene Theory. It understands that a person is either satisfied (motivator factor) or dissatisfied (hygiene factor). As a manager, you need to focus on providing more of the satisfying factors such as recognition, fun activities, and growth opportunity. But, you should also work to reduce the dissatisfying factors like hostile environment, micromanagement, and unsafe work conditions.
The last theory is called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory. Its five hierarchy levels take into consideration several factors or needs.
Going from bottom to top of the pyramid, those levels are:
- physiological (food, rest)
- safety (hazards, benefits, finances)
- love (social, sense of belonging)
- self-esteem (achievement)
- self-actualization (reaching full potential).
Maslow’s theory explains that once a need is met, the person moves to the next level. By using a variety of ways to motivate employees, you are helping them cover more levels of needs.
After all, why are these motivational theories important?
Even though these three motivational theories were developed before 1970, they provide us with some guidance on how to motivate employees nowadays. Fortunately, the conversations didn’t stop and they continue everywhere. From conferences to trainings, and all the way to Ted Talks.
That’s because motivating employees was an important topic then as it is now.
How to motivate employees? (successfully!)
Here are quick tips to successfully implement your different ways to motivate employees:
Use different motivators
Use different motivational techniques. If you use the same technique every single time, the employee starts seeing it more as an entitlement rather than a nice gesture from you. After a while, the motivator won’t work anymore despite its value.
Don’t use the one-size-fits-all approach
As you know, each of your employees has their own personality. Therefore, not everybody is motivated in the same way. By using different motivational techniques, as explained above, you cover different personalities within your team.
Consistency, consistency, consistency
Consistency is very important. Motivate your employees regardless of who they are. For example, motivate your introverted employees as well as the extroverted ones. Applying motivational techniques in a consistent way helps reduce the feeling of favoritism.
Don’t look for a quick, short-term solution
None of the motivational techniques work like magic. It’s an ongoing process that needs to be applied on a regular basis for it to work. It is difficult to engage your employees if you only motivate them once a year.
Be {truly} honest
Honesty goes a long way. I can’t stress it enough. Be upfront with your employees during good and bad times. Employees have to believe in your honesty. Otherwise, it will affect their trust towards you.
A list of 25 ways to motivate employees
Here is what I consider the 25 best ways to motivate employees, create a more positive work environment, and increase employee engagement.
1- Make employees feel part of the group
Include the employees in celebrations when the group achieves a milestone such as sales goals, a number of years in business, or even the successful implementation of a difficult program.
But, also share the bad news with them too. When employees get into the habit of learning about the negative news from somebody else, it not only decreases their engagement and motivation, but it also affects their trust in you and the company.
2- Show them management support
Management support is one of the strongest ways to motivate employees. Your employees need to feel that you are there for them. Motivate them by being an example, leader, and someone they can trust.
Don’t just let them know that you support them. Do it. Help them grow through coaching, establish a plan of skills to develop, schedule some training, or anything else to help them succeed.
3- Celebrate success in the workplace
Recognize your employees for their accomplishments. Use different types of recognition depending on the accomplishment.
You could give a “Great Job!” card, a box of chocolates, flowers, lunch at a restaurant, or even sending a nice email.
Speaking of celebration, you can also celebrate birthdays and work anniversaries.
4- Understand the importance of work-life balance
Your employees have a personal life outside of work. Don’t assume that single employees have the time to work extra hours. They may have to take care of their elderly parents or even work on something else on the side.
Understanding and respecting their personal life is one of the ways to motivate employees. There’s a reason why flexible schedules are growing in popularity.
The workplace has changed over time and the number of employees looking for a work-life balance keeps growing. For example, 60% of women considered that is very important to find a job with a greater work-life balance. Something that’s important for me too! That was one of the top reasons why I started a blog.
5- Have fun with your employees
There are always emails to answer, tasks to complete, deadlines to meet, projects to work on, meetings to attend, and many other job responsibilities. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t take some time off to have fun with your employees.
You can plan something fun outside the company such as going to the park, restaurant, or an entertainment place. Want to stay inside the company? Reserve a meeting room, order pizza, and play some games.
6- Build a relationship
Basic things are normally the best ways to motivate employees. Like relationships. Building a healthy relationship with your employees is very important. Make your employees feel comfortable. The better they feel working with you, the happier they will be in the workplace.
Show your employees that you care about their well-being and success. Building a strong relationship is a great way to motivate employees as long as they believe in your honesty.
7- Listen to your employees
Pay attention to what your employees have to say. Listen attentively and objectively to your employees’ comments, ideas, and suggestions. In addition to listening to the employees’ problems, worries, and frustrations. What’s affecting them inside or outside of work? Sometimes, all that a person needs to feel better is somebody to listen.
8- Provide employee feedback on a regular basis
Providing feedback to your employees on a regular basis is crucial, but barely used in companies. Many supervisors wait until the performance review to discuss any concern with the employees.
Don’t wait. Now is always the best time to talk about those concerns. That will give your employees a better chance to succeed.
9- Give clear expectations
Let employees know exactly what you expect of them. If you notice any confusion, sit with the employee and go over the expectations again. Having a good communication is always the best way to clarify any misunderstanding. After all, you want your employees to succeed.
10- Create challenges in the workplace
Everybody likes challenges. That’s why there’s a new challenge out there pretty much every week. I am one of those people who get bored easily after mastering a task. Fortunately, most of the supervisors I had gave me the opportunity to challenge myself by handling new tasks and projects. Challenges can be one of your best ways to motivate employees and create competition. Just make sure to promote a healthy competition.
11- Help each employee create a career path
Meet one-on-one with your employees and talk about their interests, skills, and plans for the future. The more you help them visualize the future and available opportunities for professional growth, the more motivated your employees will be. Help them schedule any required training or class to achieve their goals.
12- Maximize their strengths
Maximizing the talent of your employees is a win-win-win situation.
First, employees are more motivated and comfortable to use their talents. Second, maximizing the strengths increases their chances of succeeding. Third, when an employee succeeds, the company wins too.
13- Take employees’ feedback into consideration
Only 30% of employees believe that their opinions count at work. That’s sad. It tells you that many businesses are not seeing employee’s feedback as a way to motivate employees. To improve employee motivation, show interest, and respect for the employee’s contributions.
Over the years, you get used to following the same processes over, and over again. Take the time to listen to the employee’s suggestions and understand their point of view.
To avoid future misunderstandings, share your thoughts with them and be clear about what you can and can’t do regarding their feedback.
14- Recognize individual contributions
Teamwork has many benefits and luckily, most companies encourage it. Just don’t forget to recognize individual contributions too. Make sure to identify and recognize those key contributions that each of your employees makes.
15- Get to know your employees
Take time to know your employees better. It’s a way to make them feel special and important. As a human resources professional, I usually had many employees. At one point, I even had about 400 employees.
Learning all the employees’ names was a challenge for me. But, knowing that it meant the world to them, it became more important to me.
Knowing your employees helps you to identify and maximize their strengths. It the end, you are connecting two effective ways to motivate employees.
16- Ask questions to your employees
Asking questions to your employees have several benefits. First, getting the information directly from your employees allows you to know exactly what they like and what motivates them. Second, that’s key information you can use to plan surprise activities in the future. Third, employees feel happy helping you solve a problem.
Good job! You already went over 16 ways to motivate employees. Make sure to get the pdf version.
17- Give choices to choose from
Sometimes, companies look for ways to motivate employees but they get discouraged by the lack of flexibility. It may require a tight budget or specific location but, don’t let that stop you. In this case, think of a few possible options and let your employees vote for their favorite one. By giving choices, your employees know exactly what to expect and you are letting them make the final decision.
18- Make sure to follow up
Employees normally share things that are happening in their lives. They might be buying a house, expecting the visit of a family member, taking care of a sick parent, or having issues at the kid’s school.
We are all humans and those type of situations affect the employees in a positive or negative way. If the employees share those details with you, follow up with them. Show them that you care, and if needed, be a resource for them.
19- Do some volunteer work {and take your team with you}
The reality is that not everything can be business. Volunteering your time shows your employees that you care about others and about supporting the community.
It’s a special way to bond with your team. Call your local non-profit organizations and ask them how your company can help.
Sometimes, planning some volunteer work seems difficult to achieve. Don’t give up. Try collecting items for donations. Your team can donate cans for the local food banks, backpacks for elementary school students, toys for kids at the hospitals, or blankets to distribute at the senior living centers.
Working together for the community are special ways to motivate employees. Plus, the opportunities to help and make a difference are endless.
20- Have themed days
Promote themed days related to your company, calendar days, cultural events, or holidays. Some companies have an ugly sweater day, sports day, or jeans day. I have been in companies that celebrated the New Chinese Year, Halloween, and Cinco de Mayo.
Think of different themed days based on your company’s work environment. Based on my experience, themed days and dress-up days are two popular ways to motivate employees. Combine them and don’t forget to have fun!
21- Surprise your employees
Plan an activity, tell your employees what to wear, and take them to the place as a surprise. I had a supervisor who was doing it every quarter and we loved it! It kept us excited, thinking of possible places where we were going.
A surprise activity creates the chance to know your co-workers better, aside from adapting to the surprise itself.
22- Forget about the out of sight, out of mind
You are probably familiar with the popular saying: out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, many companies unknowingly apply it to employees on leave of absence. Make an effort to let them know how much they are missed.
Send a get well soon card to an employee who had a surgery, flowers to someone who’s just lost a family member, or a baby gift {yep, that’s my shop 🙂 } to an employee on maternity or paternity leave.
Do something nice again upon their return to work. Show them how happy you (and the rest of the team) are for their return.
After having my first girl, I returned to an office that was decorated with welcome back signs. After having my second daughter, my then supervisor and co-workers took me to a restaurant for lunch. Both times, I felt missed and motivated in going back to work.
Make sure you use different ways to motivate employees upon their return to work.
23- Run contests
Contests are great for creative and overachiever employees. A pumpkin decorating contest is popular among companies. What about a holiday contest? Ask your employees to decorate their work area with the holiday spirit.
Use contests focused on your company. It could be choosing the company’s Christmas card, the best- decorated work area, the most creative tagline for a product, etc.
24- Create special groups or committees
People always want to help and be part of something special.
That’s why companies create VIP programs or exclusive benefits for members. Even artists encourage these groups by calling their fans in a special way. Taylor Swift fans are Swifties, Ed Sheeran fans call themselves Sheerios, and Beyonce fans are Bey Hive.
At work, create groups to help you plan company events and activities. Approach those employees that you already have in mind. But, leave some room for the volunteers who want to join the group.
Choose few employees for each group but be sure they are enough to get the work done without frustration.
Quick tip: Have your more engaged employees be the leaders of these groups. And, whenever you are ready to plan a new event or activity, give new people the opportunity to join the group.
25- Give out handwritten “Thank You” cards
Giving out “Thank You” cards is an old valuable motivational technique. The gesture is highly appreciated in a time where most messages are sent through phones and computers.
Have a box of thank you cards handy on your desk and be ready to recognize a behavior that goes above and beyond. Just be careful. Distributing the cards too often will decrease their value.
Which ways are your favorite to motivate employees?
Wow, we discussed a lot in here! Don’t forget to download the pdf version of this article. It includes the 25 employee motivation techniques mentioned above. Plus, a bonus page which is a quick start with 15 Fun Ways to Motivate Employees, is included.
I hope you now have a better understanding of how important employee motivation is in the workplace. The examples provided should help you get started in the right direction.
What do you consider are the three best ways to motivate employees? Leave a comment below!
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