Keeping ahead of competition and market changes while remaining results-focused should be what keeps your managers busy – not micro-managing their team’s daily activities. Engaging and motivating staff through a supportive workplace that is nurtured with effective employee feedback questions encourages the entire office to become more productive, happy and able to meet company goals.
Constant supervision often stunts a team’s ability to keep sight of company goals and stay focused on producing the results required. Employee motivation is related to individual ownership of responsibilities, trust and communication.
By showing your team that you value them through clear communication, trust in their ability to carry out their work efficiently and effectively, and show accountability for your and their actions, you will be rewarded with better employee engagement and focus.
Empowered teams are able to work autonomously toward business goals without additional incentives or rewards. Here’s how to initiate and sustain the right kind of employee motivation in the workplace.
Fear vs. Respect
Many people mistake fear for respect, but they’re different and you can’t have both. Managing with intimidation and fear breeds distrust and reduces productivity. People ruled with fear only perform to a standard that relieves them from your wrath.
Showing trust in your team’s abilities will earn you respect, and it is this that will yield much more positive results. Establishing trust and earning respect from your team leads to more engaged and motivated employees who will go the extra mile to reach goals that help the business succeed.
Building trust and respect begins with active listening, supporting employees and showing accountability for your own actions. Showing that you have confidence in your team and allowing them to show autonomy in their role encourages people to become more committed to their work and be more involved team members.
Communicate Positively
Most workplace dissatisfaction comes from poor internal communication. Communicating positively means regularly conversing about projects and concisely letting staff know what is expected of them and how they can meet their targets. All of this must be conveyed with politeness and respect.
Setting small goals along the way to achieve the overall objective helps people to become more engaged and able to track their own progress.
If employees feel that their opinions and suggestions are heard, they, in turn feel confident and connected to their work. Communicating positively means giving recognition for achievements and supporting your team wherever needed. It shows your team that their place in the business is valued.
Regular communication with your team should encompass goals, direction, and opportunities for employees to identify areas for their own and the company’s future development. These regular feedback sessions will enable you to discover your team’s strengths and the best ways to keep them motivated and on point. This, in turn, leads to higher efficiency and a positive workplace.
Transparency Leads to Accountability
Make sure there are no surprises for employees by informing them of what is happening at the highest levels of the organization. Letting them know the latest initiatives and the reasons for decisions that affect them creates a calm and happy workplace where everyone feels valued. If coupled with a chance for employees to provide feedback and ask questions, staff will feel committed to the business’s goals and direction. Additionally, they’ll have unremitting motivation and increased loyalty and pride in their work.
Show transparency and personal integrity by demonstrating you hold yourself accountable for your actions and decisions, too. By being transparent in the communication of your own goals (both those reached and missed), others feel compelled to behave in the same manner.
You can’t expect people to be motivated and accountable for their work if they are unsure of what is expected from them. Clearly articulating goals and expectations for each team member will stop staff from becoming frustrated with their work and disillusioned to the point of searching for their next job opportunity.
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