Hiring the perfect candidates to work for you isn’t enough. You need to keep them motivated if you want them to continue in the long run and give their best. But often firms fall short in this regard. Only 69 percent of respondents to a 2015 SHRM Employee Job Satisfaction and Engagement survey felt they consistently gave their jobs their all. Here are some scientifically proven ways to motivate your employees to stick around for the long haul and work efficiently:
Be Respectful and Encouraging
Poor management is one of the main causes of employees leaving their jobs. Respect, encouragement, assistance, and communication are some key principles to adhere to. However, there is much more you can do to excel as a mentor and leader. Effective management, like any other skill, requires knowledge and practice, so if you’re new to the whole management thing, it’s worth reading some books on the subject.
Start by looking at management best-sellers on Amazon or the Square blog’s section on employee management. The bottom line is that loyal employees will follow you if you’re a good boss.
Provide Them With Growth Opportunities
Providing your employees with opportunities to grow within the business. While appraisals are enticing, there is also the psychological benefit of feeling trusted and respected for their work. Consider which of your employees might be suitable for a management position at the new location if you’re opening one.
Consider preparing the person managing inventory particularly well to take on full responsibility for vendor relations. Giving your top workers room to grow changes their perspective from viewing it as a side job to pursuing it as a full-time career.
Recognize and Appreciate Their Efforts
If an employee has been working very hard on a project or if they went above and beyond to assist a colleague, do not hesitate to appreciate them for it. When you value your employees’ efforts, they will be motivated to put forth even more effort.
Employees whose accomplishments were acknowledged report enjoying their work more as a result. However, it’s unlikely that they will go above and beyond for the business once more if they believe that their long hours and sacrifices on their part were in vain.
Therefore, it’s important to recognize your diligent workers. Whether it’s by noting their contributions in a meeting, highlighting them in a staff email, or awarding them an employee of the month certificate!
Provide Scheduling Flexibility
According to a Forbes study, 46% of the respondents said that flexibility is the most crucial aspect of job searching. Technology has changed the way businesses run. It makes sense for workers to expect flexibility from their employers when it comes to scheduling if they are permitted (and expected) to check work email on their phones or complete projects on their laptops at home.
So, if you want to be viewed as a progressive employer and draw top talent, provide a variety of scheduling options. Whether it’s a work-from-home opportunity or flexible time.
Be Open and Honest
It is worth sharing knowledge of how the company is doing with your employees. It increases employee investment. Send out daily, weekly, or monthly sales reports, and details about the proportion of new versus returning customers.
Having access to all of this information not only gives your staff a sense of importance within the company but also identifies areas for improvement.
Provide Them With Incentives
Of course, the best way to keep your employees motivated and retain them for the long haul is to provide them with incentives. It can be a bonus for the quarter, a commission structure superior to that of the rivals, an offering to pay for additional credentials, or profit-sharing with the company.
People are more likely to do a good job and stick around to see things through if they are aware that they will get rewards for the job well done.
Share Positive Feedback With Them
Feeling satisfied with the work you do is a major aspect of job satisfaction. Work-related satisfaction can come from various sources, such as knowing you brewed the ideal cup of coffee or rescuing a home by cutting down a dangerous tree. Be sure to let your staff members know if your customers express gratitude for these things.
Make it a point to share all of the supportive and encouraging feedback with their staff. Giving your staff the satisfaction of knowing they improved someone’s day (or more) strengthens their sense of loyalty to your company.
Show Them the Big Picture
Keep your employees aware of the bigger picture. Show them how their current effort will ultimately lead to a larger objective. Assigning them tasks and projects will help them learn how this fits into the bigger picture. Employees with talent will go above and beyond what requires.
Allow Them To Lead
Demonstrate the value of your employees’ contributions by letting them lead. No matter how big or small the meeting. Let a different team member take the lead and decide what will be covered.
They can express their views in this way. They inspire to follow through on their words and ideas as a result.
Give Them an Enjoyable Place to Work At
Make your workplace aesthetically pleasing, well-lit, practical, and enjoyable to work at. Keeping everything in good condition and your equipment up-to-date and functional. It includes replacing anything that might make employees want to throw out the window in frustration. Such as your point-of-sale system that moves slowly or your back office computer from the Cold War.
Additionally, it includes maintaining order and aesthetic appeal.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to improve your space. Consider showcasing local artists or purchasing unique furniture at a local market. Your staff and customers will find all these small details to be very enjoyable.
The Ending Note
Being flexible, encouraging, providing opportunities and incentives, and acknowledging employees’ efforts are scientific ways to motivate employees. If you are still wondering what else you can do to motivate them. Just sit down and ask them what they value and what they have in mind.