Here's how to boost employee motivation

January may be behind us, but the wet and wind remains. And whether they face a dreary, dark commute to the office, or are waking up to yet another day of working from home, we all know this time of year can test the motivation of even the most dedicated professional.

Whilst a certain degree of motivation needs to come from your staff, they need to have a reason to be motivated about their work in the first place - that’s where you as an HR team, leader or employer comes in. Let’s focus on why it’s important for you to seek ways to boost staff and top tips on how to do this.?

Why Motivation is Key?

Staff motivation can come in many forms - a want to stay in work for those extra 15 minutes to get a job their proud of, complete; a hunger to introduce new ideas into the workspace, from how to spend lunch breaks to what they produce for customers or clients; or even the simple energy to welcome and chat to other teams members, despite a busy schedule.?

Staff motivation is key for your company culture - it represents a certain level of commitment, happiness and energy from your business to stakeholders, clients/customers, and future talent. But what can happen when it is lacking??

Whilst it is easier for an employer to expect staff to come with a certain level of motivation since they are being paid to do a job, they need to have a reason to come to work, outside of the personal needs of financial security. In particular, new generations of employees seek more than a simple pay packet at the end of the month - they want to be motivated, energised, fulfilled with their job. If your company is lacking a culture, or your colleague’s job is lacking satisfaction, this can have a detrimental impact on motivation.?

Motivation is key because it energises a workplace, focuses commitment towards certain goals and objectives, and drives your business forward. Your people make your organisation - motivate them, and your company will excel to new heights.?

Staff Motivation - Top Tips

Whilst salary rises will always provide a temporary boost for staff, if they do not feel fulfilled in their tasks, their unhappy with a toxic workplace culture, or their unhappy with their environment/equipment, this will always drag any temporary boost down. So how can you motivate? Here’s our top tips:?

1. Don’t Rely on Financial Incentives?

Whilst this includes salaries, financial incentives can come in the form of one-off bonuses or commission-based performance payments. These can drive your colleagues to perform to a higher standard, but not everyone will be motivated by money.?

Rather than rely on simply flashing cash at a potentially unhappy employee now and again, why not seek alternative incentives to motivate? This could include paid voluntary leave, a shorter working day or a half day once a month to encourage team building. Perhaps employees seek new scenery or a more comfortable work environment; why not reward them with some new equipment like an upgraded chair or desk when a team performs well? Not only could these alternative incentives boost those employees who have worked well, but drive other departments to produce the same results through motivation.?

2. Task Flexibility?

Naturally, an employee is in a position as they applied for a job that the company deemed a good fit for that individual. But after considerable time, employees can grow frustrated, or even bored with their job, particularly if it involved the same daily tasks. Whilst routine is usually good, some colleagues may over time grow too comfortable and find themselves unsatisfied, risking a potential loss of talent for your company as well as performance whilst they are still in post.?

One way you could motivate these colleagues is by introducing rotations or even a flexibility with tasks or projects, depending on the size and nature of your business. This could include allowing staff to work on a different team or project for a set period of time, providing them with an insight into other parts of your business and to see if this may be a better move for them once an opening becomes available.?

On the other hand, by introducing some task rotation or flexibility, this will provide the opportunity for colleagues to shake-up their day-to-day, allowing them to feel more challenged or fulfilled.?

3. Remember to Ask!?

It can be an easy thing to miss, but remember to ask colleagues how you can motivate them! Whilst a certain amount of drive, tenacity or motivation is expected, especially in certain job sectors, you need to give a staff member a reason to stay and to be motivated to contribute to your workplace.?

Whether you are an employer, manager or an HR Team, take time to identify any potential ‘problem’ employees that could be in need of a motivation boost. Have an approachable and honest conversation with them to see what areas they may need motivated in and if there is anything as a business you can do to help them. To reiterate - your people are your organisation - motivate them to succeed and your business will succeed in performance, productivity and talent retention.?

David Bell is CEO at The HR Department