MMC, Inc. HR Tips Volume I Issue 4

March 2009  

Motivated Employees Will Build Company Morale 

Written by: Michele O'Donnell, M.S. Human Resources Management 

Motivation is vital to developing a healthy relationship between an employer and the employee. Having a sound relationship in the workplace is significant in retaining key employees and building employee loyalty to your organization. Motivation can also improve productivity and inspire employees to work even harder.

Motivation is a powerful factor in accomplishing goals in all aspects of an individual’s life. Motivational experts may vary widely in the techniques they suggest to instill motivation, however, listed below are some that many seem to agree with:

• Know your employees - Employers must take the time to know their employee and know what drives their performance. We have heard throughout our lives that each person is a unique individual and this is no different when it comes to motivation. Not all employees will be motivated by the same strategy.
• Communication – Keep the communication channels open. Always treat employees with respect and dignity and they will give you their best efforts. Clearly communicate expectations to employees and potential consequences for not meeting those expectations. When this information is not provided up front, employees may begin to feel that they are working with no purpose in mind and their efforts are not contributing to the organization. Many employees have excellent and creative ideas, so by accepting their suggestions, a company may operate more efficiently. Soliciting this information shows employees that you care and are interested in what they say. Do not solicit suggestions as an empty exercise or as busy work as employees will become increasingly frustrated when they feel ignored.
• Training & Goal Setting – Employees are motivated from the beginning when they are given the training necessary to allow then to excel in their job. Both short and long term goals should be set to guide projects and productivity. Employees input should be solicited in goal setting.
• Feedback – Providing useful feedback to employees is crucial in keeping them motivated. Feedback should go hand in hand with established expectations. Providing feedback is not only a learning opportunity for the employee but also an opportunity for employee recognition.
• Show Recognition – Expressing appreciation for a good work always goes a long way in motivating employees. Employees need to know that efforts are recognized and appreciated. There are many simple and cost effective ways to accomplish this. They can range from handing out gift certificates, certificates of appreciation, mentioning their name in the company newsletter or a posting on the company bulletin board.
• Work Environment – Create a positive and stimulating environment that will allow employees to be creative and flourish. Provide variation in the work employees perform, completing the same boring tasks all the time is not fun for anyone.

Recognizing and keeping a watchful eye on the areas listed above will go a long way in keeping your workforce engaged and motivated to do their best for your organization.