Many organizations feel that if they could just figure out the fundamentals of motivation, dealing with employees would be so much easier. Money alone does not work; realistically, it’s only the price of entry, an expectation, a reason why somebody will join a company or perhaps get up each morning. But what does it actually take to truly motivate staff to perform at an effective level?
10. IT’S NOT JUST MONEY
Money is a good initiator but genuine interest in the work sustains performance in the long term.
9. EMPOWER YOUR PEOPLE
Provide empowering leadership so that people have the resources to complete the task and are then allowed the freedom to do them.
8. ALIGN DUTIES AND WISHES
Create alignment between what employees like to do or are good at and what they actually experience at work.
7. GET THEM ‘ALL IN’
Ensure that employees are fully engaged and they will exceed expectations and persist in the face of adversity.
6. LET ‘EM KNOW WHERE THEY STAND
Offer regular feedback whether through recognition, support or accountability, handled in a respectful way.
5. WHERE DO THEY WANT TO GO?
Pay attention to career progression or they might wander elsewhere (especially your best people).
4. FUN AND ENGAGING WORK
Make work challenging and enjoyable and staff will give their very best.
3. UPBEAT AND RESPECTFUL
Promote a positive and respectful environment in which everybody behaves with each other.
2. BRIDGE THE GENERATION GAPS
Take time to understand generational differences; young employees and seasoned personnel have very different views of the world and the workplace.
1. FOLLOW THESE 3 KEYS
In a nutshell, provide employees with purpose, mastery and autonomy. According to Dan Pink in his book “Driven,” purpose means understanding and value; mastery means skills and knowledge and autonomy means freedom and trust.
Bill Sex is president of New England Coaching in Marlborough. He can be reached at bill@newenglandcoaching.com.
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