How To Keep Your Employees Motivated?

Well motivated employees lead to high business productivity, minimal staff turnover and greater profitability for your business. However, how do you keep your employees motivated? Motivating your employees is not just about paying a competitive salary or offering perks and bonuses. To ensure your employees are well motivated you need to consider all aspects of your business.

• Know what motivates your team members, never assume that you know what drives the people in your team. Some people may respond well to financial incentives such as commissions or bonuses but others may not. For some it could be more important to have some time off or a simple 'Thank You' for the good work that they do. 
• Communicate your goals and vision clearly, it is incumbent upon the manager to set the direction in clear, unambiguous terms. Ongoing communication and monitoring of progress is crucial.
• Develop a 'coaching' style and attitude by developing a coaching attitude, you will be able to empower your staff to find the answers to their own day to day challenges on the job rather than telling them to do things your way. Employees will be more effective in the longer run if they are given the space to use their natural strengths and unique approach on the job. A 'directive' style of management will restrict the inherent potential of your team members. 
• Communicate with your employees in an open and honest way, including regular staff meetings in groups and on a one-to-one basis and staff updates on how the business is performing and management decisions that have been made. 
• Review performance on a regular basis through staff appraisals and individual update meetings, ensuring individual objectives are realistic and align with the overall business objectives. 
• Consult with your employees before making decisions that will affect them and encourage your employees to make suggestions for improvements in the business. 
• Develop trust and teamwork among your employees and encourage them to ask for help when problems arise.
• Give your employees a reasonable amount of autonomy and control and try and ensure each employee has a variety of interesting and satisfying work. 
• Support your employees through times of change in the business, in achieving work balance and managing stress. 
• Provide employees with development and career opportunities, through training, work placements and encouragement. 
• Create an atmosphere where employees enjoy working alongside their colleagues, where there is time for humour and fun and take the time to be interested in their life outside work.