Do you have underperforming employees or collaborators? Try these methods to motivate them and boost productivity.
Not everyone’s a motivational speaker, and out of those who choose that profession, only a small percentage can truly change people’s minds. But you don’t have to become a motivational speaker to motivate your team. You don’t even have to hire one to do it for you. A few simple tricks can help you turn things around at the office.
Show respect
It doesn't matter if you are a top expert in your field, employees who don’t respect you, won’t work hard for you. Respect is something you have to earn and reciprocate.
If you treat your team members with respect, appreciate their individuality, and you are approachable and flexible in your management style, you can begin to build a relationship of mutual trust.
Once they get to 'know, like and trust' you, they may become more loyal to the company, be a better team player and may be more motivated to put in greater effort too.
Offer feedback
Sometimes, people lack motivation due to a lack of feedback - they don't know if they are doing a good job or not, or might feel they are being ignored or taken for granted. No feedback doesn’t always mean a job well done. So offer constructive feedback more often to motivate your team.
Celebrate accomplishments
People crave recognition for their accomplishments. Make it a part of the company culture to acknowledge the successes.
Encourage collaboration
Sometimes you may have to encourage your team members to work with each other. Set up collaboration projects and invite input from different departments.
Most of all, encourage social interaction to make the workplace a more pleasant environment.
Merit-based compensations
Financial motivators are always effective, but often only to an extent. So you may want to revisit the company’s compensation structure, that is if you even have one.
It’s beneficial to adopt a merit-based reward system that shows appreciation for the hardest workers. It will make your team more motivated and productive.
Invite competition
Over and beyond collaboration, what can motivate some people is a little friendly competition. If you can’t afford to offer financial rewards to the top performers, do something else.
Acknowledge your best team members every week or month. Put up a chart in the office that clearly illustrates who’s on top of their game.
Set clear goals
Here are other reasons why some of your team members may not be pulling their weight:
- they don’t have a clear target or goal to work towards
- the clarity of your instructions and expectations
People need to know that they have to complete a specific task by a set deadline, and how to do it. It’s a more powerful motivator than you might think, and it doesn’t cost a penny.
Promote more from within the company
One effective approach to inspire your team is by demonstrating that opportunities for personal and professional growth exist within the company. You don't want your team members thinking they are slaving away in dead-end positions. If you promote internally, it communicates that you are not constantly seeking outside talent, which can motivate team members to show their true capabilities and value.
It all comes down to valuing your team members
Don't just think about valuing your team - show them! Small acts of kindness go a long way. Give constructive feedback, treat them with respect and offer incentives to motivate them to do their best. Invest in your team, and remember as quoted by Richard Branson, "If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients".
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