What are the Things that Motivates Employees ?

The ability to motivate employees is one of the greatest skills an entrepreneur can possess.

1.       Be generous with praise. Everyone wants it and it’s one of the easiest things to give. Plus, praise from the HR goes a lot farther than you might think. Praise every improvement that you see your team members make. Remember to praise people in front of all and point out their mistakes personally with them.

2.      Get rid of the managers. Removing the project lead or supervisor and empowering your staff to work together as a team rather then everyone reporting to one individual can do wonders. Allow people to work together as a team, on an equal level with their co-workers, will often produce better projects faster. People will come in early, stay late, and devote more of their energy to solving problems.  

3.      Make your ideas theirs. People hate being told what to do. Instead of telling people what you want done; ask them in a way that will make them feel like they came up with the idea. Ask like -- “Do you think it’s a good idea if we do it this way?”  

4.   Never criticize or correct. No one, and I mean no one, wants to hear that they did something wrong. Try an indirect approach to get people to improve, learn from their mistakes, and fix them. Ask, “Was that the best way to approach the problem? Have any ideas on what you could have done differently?” Then you’re having a conversation and talking through solutions, not pointing a finger.  

5.      Make everyone a leader. Highlight your top performers’ strengths and let them know that because of their excellence, you want them to be the example for others. You’ll set the bar high and they’ll be motivated to live up to their reputation as a leader.  

6.      Give recognition and small rewards. These things come in many forms: Give a shout out to someone in a company meeting for what he/she has accomplished. Run contests or internal games and keep track of the results on a whiteboard that everyone can see. Tangible awards that don’t break the bank can work too. Try things like dinner, trophies, spa services, and plaques. 

7.      Throw company parties. Doing things as a group can go a long way. Have a company picnic. Organize birthday parties. Don’t just wait until the holidays to do a company activity; organize events throughout the year to remind your staff that you’re all in it together. 

8.      Share the rewards—and the pain. When your company does well, celebrate. This is the best time to let everyone know that you’re thankful for their hard work. Go out of your way to show how far you will go when people help your company succeed. If there are disappointments, share those too. If you expect high performance, your team deserves to know where the company stands. Be honest and transparent. 


Note: Please share your Views/Thoughts and leave a message with your comments/suggestions as they are always welcomed.  This will keep me motivated and will encourage me to write and post more useful articles based on various topics mostly related to Technology and HRM