How To Create Motivated and Inspired Employees

When running a business, your team is your biggest asset and most important resource. This makes it vital to ensure that your employees feel inspired and motivated to work in a healthy, positive work environment that’s conducive to productivity.

Motivation is a powerful tool that drives employees in the workplace, resulting in their maximum contribution. A study conducted by Hay Group found that offices with engaged employees were 43% more productive. Setting goals, achieving them, having clear expectations, recognizing wins, giving feedback at every level, and encouragement contribute to a considerable increase in workplace motivation. 

Tech-giants like Google provide special perks to their employees as a means to keep them motivated so they can make it through a busy week of work – but it’s not necessary to incorporate the same means as every business is on a different point of the spectrum. Regardless of where you lie on that spectrum, igniting passion in your employees is a vital step in ensuring your targets are met, which can be achieved without burning out your employees. 

To achieve your desired results, here are some ways you can motivate your team to help steer them in the right direction to crush those goals:

Learn What Matters to Your Employees

You can’t expect to fuel their passion without knowing what motivates them in the first place. This entails taking the time to get to know your employees, building a more interpersonal working relationship to make them feel heard and appreciated. Conversations with your employees about their passions and goals will help you find effective motivation strategies. 

Most entry-level employees have big dreams. They want to be their own boss someday and expect to learn a lot by working for you. Others are only there to further their financial interest, while many more of your staff cherish the feelings of accomplishment and are always on the lookout for a greater challenge.

Give them what they are looking for and watch as employee engagement increases overall workplace productivity. 

Recognize Achievements and Celebrate Successes

According to research, 68% of US employees were reported either not engaged or actively disengaged. When asked how to improve engagement, 58% pointed to employee recognition. 

By identifying employees and celebrating their successes, you are sparking joy and letting them know that their efforts do not go unnoticed and contributions are appreciated. 

Recognizing hard work isn’t about rewarding employees with material gifts but bringing out the best in them and subsequently improving your company’s bottom line – companies with employee recognition programs have a 31% lower voluntary turnover. 

But this also requires you to measure their overall performance, which can be challenging as you have to track and manage productivity. Use a performance management system from OKR software like Profit.co to track and manage employee performance. 

Cultivate a Healthy Work Environment

Work environments have a significant impact on employee productivity and motivation. You have to create a safe space for your employees that is enjoyable to work in. They have to want to work there. Things like lighting, furniture, privacy, and cleanliness matter to people. They spend 8 or 9 hours of their day working confined in a small space, so make sure they feel welcome and comfortable. 

Physical aspects aside, fostering a healthy work culture is a part of a healthy work environment. Nurturing positive values like compassion, respect, and understanding within the work environment is a kind of emotional incentive that gives people a sense of security about their employers. When there are cooperation and support, employees are more committed to their tasks. 

Provide Opportunities for Development

Employees feel more valued when they are learning and enhancing their skills in the office. To motivate and inspire your team to achieve better results, provide them with development opportunities to show them that you are invested in their growth and welfare. There are many ways you can do this; these opportunities can be specific to the individual or in the form of a group activity like seminars or training.

Take the initiative to encourage cross-departmental collaboration. This could be a great opportunity to bridge the gap between different work cultures with the added benefit that your employees will learn more about others parts of the business. These development opportunities can focus on teaching employees transferable skills that can be used in any work setting. 

In Conclusion

To improve employee motivation and inspiration, you have to show your employees that you don’t just depend on their ability to do their jobs but also care about them as people. 

With the right tools and opportunities, employees are more likely to feel inspired to do their best work.