Happy New Year – If You Stay Motivated?

Motivation plays a huge part in everyone’s life, both personal and work.??If you are motivated, things get done and done properly. Goals can be achieved, new ideas can be created and sales can be secured. The satisfaction of having achieved good results further enhances motivation. Motivation is the fuel that drives a person’s actions and produces that extra 10% that, more often than not, ensures expectations are exceeded.??But what is motivation???How do you get it if you feel you are lacking it at present???In this article I’d like to examine some of the answers to those questions.?

Motivation is the process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviours.?Motivation is crucial to the success of any project, sale or plan.??It is one of the most important responsibilities you have if you are a manager.??The ability to keep people motivated, focused and energised is a vital skill in business.??Here’s what motivation can do for you:

·??????Your staff perform well and achieve results consistently

·??????Your staff show enthusiasm which in turn, drives on others

·??????There is less absenteeism

·??????You tend not to lose key staff to your competitors

·??????Your staff work hard to deal with and solve problems

·??????Your staff willingly seek responsibility and…

·??????Your staff are more likely to embrace change and innovate

That’s a powerful list of positives and a definate reason why you should be doing all you can to further your skills as a motivator.?You will know that customer-facing employees must have sufficient knowledge, authority and expertise to enhance any customer’s experience. This knowledge and expertise can be taught, for example, product and industry knowledge, courtesy, responsiveness, asking questions, active listening and summarising. However, their behaviour as to whether or not they will go that extra mile is predominantly?driven by motivation. Motivation extends from feelings of respect, value and appreciation. Empowering employees can not only generate these positive emotions, but it also ensures they can make good decisions and take the necessary action on the spot to provide an excellent customer experience and deal with problems and complaints.?

Motivation can be a complex issue though.??It can vary from individual to individual, from time to time, situation to situation. It usually falls in two categories,?

1)?Extrinsic motivation?e.g. pay / salary, holidays, incentives for performance, security, working conditions, social status and career development.?

2)?Intrinsic motivation?e.g. having a sense of purpose and achievement, having automony, being involved and in on things plus the fact that you are competent at your job.??

Although everyone is motivated by different needs, most people will tell you that two of the most important things they look for in their employment are mutual respect and personal involvement. In fact, countless surveys have found that recognition for a job well done is?THE?greatest motivator. When workers feel good about themselves, the work they do, and the company they work for, it is much easier to gain their cooperation and keep them motivated. Below is a list of ways in which you can push the motivation buttons of your staff .?

Involve employees in decision-making process.?Give employees a share in decision-making. Ask for their advice and opinions.??If not deciding what is to be done, then how it is to be done, or when or in what way, by whom. Let their "share" increase over time.

Keep employees informed.??Keep employees informed about changes that can directly affect them such as strategy, policy changes, procedure or rule changes, product information changes, and performance changes.

Be aware of your employees’ morale.??Be sensitive to changes in morale. Know when and why it goes up or down.??If you don't know….consistently ask!?

Maintain an open-door policy.??Announce you are always available to discuss any issues with them, no matter how trivial they may feel they are.?

Be sure to listen.??Actively listen to your staff??- not just to hear but to understand. Think in ink when they give you answers!???Take notes of what they say.??It really impresses staff when you record their points of view or ideas or suggestions. Be willing to put good ideas into action by making changes.

Give "constructive" criticism.??An effective manager gives constructive criticism and never makes personal attacks.??Explain the behaviour you observed, the consequences of it as you see it and what you’d want to happen as a result in the future. You are not having a go at them. You are focusing on their behaviour.??There’s a difference.??

Recognize your employees.??Give appropriate praise and recognition for a job well done.??Public praise for a job well done, in front of others, is a huge motivator.?

Reward creativity.?Let your staff know it’s safe and, in fact, encouraged to come up with new ideas and put them into action. They will be more invested and engaged if they’re working on something they originated.?

Offer training.?Most professionals want to keep learning and improving their skills so they can advance in their careers. Support and encourage that desire to learn by offering training programs, mentoring and tuition assistance for work-related courses.

Give them a break

Remind employees to take regular breaks to recharge, and set a good example by doing so yourself. If your team seems particularly stressed, organise a quick collective break where you provide pizzas or cakes. One brokerage I know organised for an Ice Cream van to turn up and offered all staff a treat.??The feedback was amazing and really appreciated by all.??The cost was under €35!

Say ‘No’ Tactfully

Whenever you have to say no to an employee’s request, whether it’s for a raise, a day off or a change in hours, make sure you’re not alienating the person with the manner in which you refuse. Listen carefully, pause and then respond. Be kind, give an explanation for your decision and try to phrase your response so the employee doesn’t leave your office embarrassed.

Reduce the number of meetings

If team members are constantly in meetings, they’re more likely to feel disconnected from their regular assignments because they don’t get enough uninterrupted time to concentrate on those tasks. Before you call a formal meeting, make sure it’s really needed. It’s equally important to keep these gatherings brief and to the point.??Tip: Make them stand-up meetings.

Let’s face it, motivation is important. But it is also difficult to stay motivated and keep the motivation going every day. The number one reason we fail to achieve our goals and make our dreams a reality is because we lack the motivation to persist and fail to achieve consistency in what we do. Therefore, you need to do something each day to stay motivated.??Like what Zig Ziglar, the?famous American salesman and motivational speaker,?famously said:

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last.Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”