One of the hardest things when running a small business is to keep employees motivated and pointed towards the common target. If a small business has unmotivated employees the results can be disastrous as the employees are generally the face of your company and can often have a long and lasting effect on your business through their work and behaviours. Often making sure employees falls to the bottom of the list of things to do... after all, in small business there is always too much to do for the owner.
Motivating employees is hard, no doubt about it, but other than being an inspirational public speaker there are ways to get the job done and get your employees happy and motivated; and motivation doesn't mean paying them more!! The most effective means of motivating employees always has and always will remain free.
1. Thank your employees for their hard work. A simple "Thank You" is often the most powerful thing a manager can do. It is also the one thing many managers don't do often enough.
2. Celebrate their successes with them, after all, they are your successes too!
3. Give them something small that will make life easier every day. It could be a proper coffee machine, free supplies of Red Bull, a nice chair to sit on. These things don't cost much but make work that much more enjoyable and comfortable. (And if it involves caffeine then your employees will also be more productive!!)
4. Empower your employees. Not all the time, but at least some of the time. Show you have trust in their abilities.
5. Shout lunch for everyone once in a while. You will be surprised how happy your staff will be after. An amazing side effect of this is that your staff will actually tell you about new ideas they have had which will make your business run more efficiently and make you more money.
6. Education. Help your employees learn, and give them some freedom to learn. It doesn't really matter what, but learning something new stimulates the brain, encourages creativity, and gives people a sense of accomplishment and success. If an employee learns how to be a better sales person, office assistant, janitor, or accountant isn't that better for your business too?
Please post your comments below on interesting ways that you've been motivated or motivated others.
Motivating employees is hard, no doubt about it, but other than being an inspirational public speaker there are ways to get the job done and get your employees happy and motivated; and motivation doesn't mean paying them more!! The most effective means of motivating employees always has and always will remain free.
1. Thank your employees for their hard work. A simple "Thank You" is often the most powerful thing a manager can do. It is also the one thing many managers don't do often enough.
2. Celebrate their successes with them, after all, they are your successes too!
3. Give them something small that will make life easier every day. It could be a proper coffee machine, free supplies of Red Bull, a nice chair to sit on. These things don't cost much but make work that much more enjoyable and comfortable. (And if it involves caffeine then your employees will also be more productive!!)
4. Empower your employees. Not all the time, but at least some of the time. Show you have trust in their abilities.
5. Shout lunch for everyone once in a while. You will be surprised how happy your staff will be after. An amazing side effect of this is that your staff will actually tell you about new ideas they have had which will make your business run more efficiently and make you more money.
6. Education. Help your employees learn, and give them some freedom to learn. It doesn't really matter what, but learning something new stimulates the brain, encourages creativity, and gives people a sense of accomplishment and success. If an employee learns how to be a better sales person, office assistant, janitor, or accountant isn't that better for your business too?
Please post your comments below on interesting ways that you've been motivated or motivated others.
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