10 Effective Ways to Motivate Employees

Do what you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Seems like having a job that fulfills, motivates you, and makes you feel good about yourself is a matter of luck. But things shouldn’t be like that. Working in a corporation is a fantastic asset to your portfolio, however, if you feel drained and depressed when you finish your workday, there’s not much to envy. Just think about it: your work is where you spend the majority of your time, and your coworkers become like family So, why wouldn’t you choose the place with a great atmosphere to work in?

A healthy office can benefit both the employee and the employer, given that employee satisfaction directly impacts their engagement and motivation to do a great job and surpass expectations. If you are a business owner and you’re thinking of ways to improve your business, why don’t invest in your team first? Having a motivated team makes your job easier, and makes your clients happier. All you have to do is find ways how to motivate them and help them reach their goals. 

1. Everyone matters

Every employee is a piece of a greater puzzle. That’s why you shouldn’t pick favorites among your employees and make someone feel insignificant. In fact, the key element for achieving greater productivity among employees resides in the feeling of acceptance and togetherness. To motivate employees and improve productivity and engagement, acknowledge each one of them for the job they’ve done and make them feel appreciated.

2. Spend quality time together

As we’ve already said, given you spend the majority of your time at work there’s no reason why you shouldn’t connect with your colleagues on a more personal level. Besides creating a good atmosphere at work, spending some time off work with your colleagues straightens the bond between you which further improves their motivation. Use the opportunity to organize interesting team-building activities such as happy Fridays to boost their morale.

3. Focus on effective communication

An effective way to motivate your employees is by defining good communication in the workplace. If you tend to resolve things by email, stop doing this immediately. Emails can be super tricky because they can be left open to interpretation. Make sure you always have time for your employees and let them know their problems are heard.

4. Give your employees a chance to grow

We bet you don’t want employees who are satisfied with mediocrity. If you want to improve your business start investing in your employees by offering them a chance to grow. You can offer them free courses, tickets to various conferences, and even organize teaching seminars within the company.

5. Reward them for a job well done!

Think twice before you act, and always measure what you invest and what you get! The equation is simple; you need to give to get something in return. Recognizing potential when you see it, and working towards keeping it will make you way ahead of the completion. That’s why one of the best ways to motivate your employees hides in the notion of reward for a job well done. When you see that extra cash in your bank account after a great job, it motivates you, right? Your employees are no different.

6. Motivate employees by offering them a flexible schedule

With modern technology, there’s no more need to be in the office every day. That’s why many companies offer the possibility of remote work. It saves money on office supplies, but also allows employees to finish their non-work related things without having to abuse sick leave. On top of that, offering remote work is a great way to motivate employees given they appreciate the benefits of flex time at work.

7. Consider offering free snacks

It may sound silly, but free food really makes a difference when it comes to employee satisfaction. To back up this claim, we found a survey done by Seamless which found that almost 60 percent of employees said that free food at work made them feel more appreciated. So, we guess, offering some free snacks to your employees will be a no-brainer. Why don’t you try it?

8. Know what your employees want

It’s like in relationships: you spend a whole week trying to figure out what your partner wants to tell you. You’re ready to go above and beyond when it comes to imagining the possible causes of your partner’s poor mood. However, when you ask your partner about it there’s always something trivial in the question. The same goes when it comes to the boss-employee relationship. Instead of guessing their needs ask them directly and see the possible solutions from there.

9. Make them accountable

If you asked us how we imagine hell, we’d tell you it’s working in an office with a manager who micromanages everything. If you recognize yourself in this, stop doing this ASAP and let your employees breathe a bit. Make them accountable for their actions. If you thought they were the right fit for the job when you hired them, stick to your decision. It’s proven to boost employees’ motivation sky-high.

10. Be transparent

Don’t build your company on mystery and secrets. Even though everyone doesn’t have to know everything that’s going on in the company, having a transparent policy that lets everyone be in the know-how boosts employee motivation and employee engagement. By knowing how their company operates, they will be more likely to get attached which means they will stay longer and will be motivated to work towards meeting your business goals.

Hold on, we have a bonus tip for you!

Did you know that taking time off actually improves employee motivation and engagement? It’s true. By taking a few days off, your employees will de-clutter their minds and come back refreshed and focused. Encourage your team members to take some time off, and you’ll see the difference this will make. Another great thing you can do is implement a leave management system which will make the entire requesting vacation process even easier. With Vacation Tracker, your team members can request vacation in 5 simple clicks, and you can approve it in 1. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Ana Mladenovic

A cat enthusiast and a cupcake maniac, Ana is a freelance Content Writer passionate about HR, productivity, and team management topics. When she’s not at her keyboard, you can find Ana in the kitchen, trying to make delicious cookies.