Our next article could be on your business! Call Outbound Marketing at 920-432-2624. 12 HUMAN RESOURCES LISA POWERS IS PRESIDENT AND OWNER OF CAREER OPTIONS. WWW.CAREER-OPTIONS.COM [email protected] (920) 832-4500 LISA POWERS Motivating Employees = Strong Performance and Loyalty! written by Lisa Powers, PHR - President/Owner of Career Options A lmost all employees hope for a challenging role, fair compensation and a rewarding environment. But motivating employees takes more than money and an occasional pat on the back. It requires a strategy specifically tailored to each individual employee. As you review your own motivating philosophy (or lack of one), here are some essential components to remember: ASK YOUR EMPLOYEES ABOUT THEIR GOALS. Having an open discussion with your employees shows that you are genuinely interested in them. As you listen, offer tools to help them accomplish these goals. Whether you can offer a mentor, college courses or skills training, these opportunities that you create for them build loyalty and motivation! UNDERSTAND WHAT MOTIVATES EACH EMPLOYEE As you interview, ask this question to help you see how they are motivated. Beware of using money as a sole reward. If employees are paid fair salaries and still seem unwilling to go the extra mile, tossing more money at them will rarely give you the result you want. Whether your employees want a more flexible schedule, work/ life balance, a promotion, or a bonus check, it is important to understand each individual’s needs and what is important for them to succeed. DEVELOP CLEAR EXPECTATIONS REGARDING EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE By doing so, employees understand what is acceptable and not acceptable. This will help to avoid confusion and frustration, which is a clear de-motivator. When you do need to change direction, give employees clear direction so they know what to expect and why. Lastly, do not tolerate poor performance – this can often make high-performing employees feel as if they are being taken advantage of, which can be detrimental to motivation. ENCOURAGE HUMOR AND LAUGHTER IN THE WORKPLACE If your employees enjoy coming to work, the payoff is tremendous. Remember that you can enjoy humor yet still provide a professional environment where clients are #1. ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBILITY AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES This will create independent thinkers who can help your company excel. Most employees like to be challenged, as opposed to being bored. Help them by promoting ownership in their daily responsibilities.