16/10/2020
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!
