Healistry

Little things make big days.

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain.

1. Recognize great work

One of the most important factors that contribute to employee motivation is how often their hard work is recognized. 70% of employees say that motivation and morale would improve massively with increased recognition from managers.

After all, if an employee puts a lot of effort into a project to produce exceptional results but their hard work isn't recognized, why would they continue to be a high-performing employee?

It's not just important to recognize great work. How you recognize your team's contributions has a significant impact. Employee recognition shouldn’t just an annual bonus at the end of the year—it should be meaningfully and frequently given.

2. Set small, measurable goals
team-looking-at-charts-graphs

We've all had projects that just drag on and on, and seem to never end. It can be really demoralizing to be stuck in a rut, which is why seeing how you've made visible progress feels so good. It's also a clear indicator that our work is making a difference.

We met with Walter Chen, co-founder of iDoneThis, who shared some great insights into the importance of clear goal setting and tracking progress. You can check out full the interview here.

Setting clear, achievable goals provides a real boost of motivation each time one is conquered and keeps team on the right track. You can magnify these effects by taking the next step and celebrating those achievements.

3. Celebrate results

Part of what makes setting small and measurable goals so important is that it provides plenty of opportunities to celebrate your team’s hard work.

This doesn't mean you need to give a standing ovation to every employee who made it to work on time, but it is crucial to let everyone know exactly how (and how much) much each of their contributions move the organization forward.

Be specific in your applause. Don't just tell Marie good job. Don't even stop at great job on the new email campaign. Applaud her success and when you do, tie her to the greater picture. For example: Great job on that new email campaign—it’s going to really grow our community and nurture our customer pipeline.

4. Stay positive
Let’s be real—we’re a little suspicious of people who are happy all the time. 🤖

Negative emotions have their place, and some really good process or cultural changes can stem from having tough conversations. However, it's important to find ways to inject positive experiences into your team's interactions to create a net positive workplace.

It turns out that happiness and positivity play a greater role in the success of your business than you'd ever imagine. If you're not fully convinced yet, take a moment to view this hilarious and fascinating presentation by psychologist Shawn Achor, explaining why:

A simple shift in bias toward positivity and happiness can have an immediate impact on your work experience and relationships, which are major factors in success, motivation, engagement, and productivity.

5. Stay fueled
It's hard to stay focused and driven when you're hangry. That's why it's so important for everyone to stay fed, hydrated, and in some cases, caffeinated. ☕️

Unfortunately, it's common for employees to become so busy engrossed in their work that they can barely squeeze in time for lunch. That's not great for their health and even worse for their productivity. Not convinced? Check out this great article from Buffer co-founder Leo Widrich wrote an outstanding piece on food's crucial role in employee wellbeing.

Keeping healthy snacks around the workplace is an easy way to help your team maintain energy levels throughout the day. The cost of providing them will likely be offset by your team's increased productivity.

If you don't have the time or resources to manage this on your own, there are some great services out there that can help you keep your office stocked with healthy snacks. Our friends at SnackNation will even drop a curated box of healthy snacks right at your company's front door. At Bonusly, we get a Fruit Guys delivery every week, which is a godsend when it’s 3 p.m. and you need some fuel to get through the rest of the day!

How to Raise Your Stress Tolerance

1. Find opportunity in the challenge.
Stress makes us single-minded, so negatives loom large and positives fly under the radar. "Stress is designed to focus our attention or energy so we can overcome the threat," Ballard says.

That intensity works for time-sensitive, high-stakes issues, but most stressors are less immediate. In those cases, focusing on the problem exclusively is overwhelming and unproductive. Instead, look for new opportunities that this stressor creates, such as ways to make your company more efficient or improve communication

Finding the silver lining helps you maintain hope. "People who have trouble bouncing back often see that challenge as completely insurmountable," Ballard says. An optimistic attitude will help you tolerate a lot more stress with ease.

2. Look at the bigger picture.
When you face one stressor after another, the constant demands can drown out the greater purpose. Remembering why you care about your work creates a buffer that prevents the stress from overwhelming you. "It's important to step back and think about what it is you're trying to accomplish," Ballard says.

3. Build in recovery time.
Our bodies evolved to tolerate stress in short bursts; to put all our energy toward a threat, then relax again when it's gone. Breaks between stressors allow us to recover, but few people take them today. "Many workplaces function in a state of chronic stress," Ballard says, leaving us depleted and short-fused.

Stress-induced smoking, drinking, overeating, or Internet surfing only compound the problem. Those activities feel stress-relieving, but they don’t reset your system. To unwind effectively, try active hobbies such as sports or volunteer work, tech-free relaxation like meditation, yoga, or reading, and sleep at least six hours a night. The more you choose those activities, the better you'll cope with stress.