Happy workers are productive workers. Creating a workplace that is transparent, productive and rewarding provides motivation and creates a positive and progressive workplace.

Motivating your staff is key to retaining them. A recent study carried out by Gallup found that:

  • Only 2 in 10 employees strongly agree that their performance is managed in a way that motivates them to do outstanding work.
  • 30% of employees strongly agree that their manager involves them in goal setting.
  • Employees whose managers involve them in goal setting are 3.6x more likely than other employees to be engaged.
  • 21% of employees strongly agree they have performance metrics that are within their control.
  • 14% of employees strongly agree that the performance reviews they receive inspire them to improve.
  • 26% of employees strongly agree that the feedback they receive helps them to do their work better.

With these statistics in mind below are some key tactics to help keep your employees motivated:

1. Be A Leader Worth Following

Your team wants a leader who can set that bar high and motivate others to do the same for themselves.
Be a leader who follows their own rules and takes responsibility for what happens on your watch. Holding other people accountable or deflecting responsibility will contribute to an ineffective workforce.

2. Encourage Open Communication

Be willing to listen, when the lines of communication are open people are more comfortable. Create trust between you and your employees and let them know their input is valued. Don’t say you are willing to listen and then shoot down any ideas or opinions they may have. A breakdown in communication leads to mistrust and makes employees feel undervalued.

“An employee’s motivation is a direct result of the sum of interactions with his or her manager.” – Bob Nelson

3. Set Clear Goals

Achievable goals are very helpful as it gives employees the drive to work harder without being asked. Set out clear goals on a corporate and individual level so that there is a ‘can-do’ atmosphere in the workplace and that everybody is working towards success.

4. Celebrate Success

Celebrating small wins can drive motivation for your employees during slump times. You don’t have to wait for a massive deal to show your employees appreciation. Keeping them engaged and eager on their day to day tasks is just as important. Make sure to give your employees a pat on the back for small successes it will drive them on their path to a big win.

5. Rewards

Individual or team incentives go a long way when it comes to motivation. It can be simple things like giving time off, having lunch brought to the office, after work drinks or vouchers.
Rewarding employees can also help towards your benefits when advertising your vacancies to help entice candidates.