Employee Motivation - The 8 Basics

Building a team of motivated people in your business is vital to get the very best results, but so many managers focus on the 'ra-ra-ra', rather than the important things - the things that make people feel comfortable in their working environment. Here are eight that you might want to have a think about:

  • The Weather
    Is it too hot, or too cold. Your people need an environment which is, like Goldilocks said, 'Just right'. So is the office too stuffy in summer? Or too icy in winter? Is it draughty? Do people get wet when accepting deliveries, because the outside roof leaks? Literally make sure that external factors are as they wish.
  • The Breaks
    Sometimes working in a day-to-day job can get boring and exhausting. So people need to know when their breaks are and that they wil be able to take them - it's not that complicated. Yet often, they just aren't able to have this basic courtesy in place. Planning and caring for your people's needs is vital. It's what you would want for yourself, isn't it?
  • Holidays
    And vacations/holidays are important too - some would say it's the most important thing on the working year calendar. So enable this to happen, when they need to know, so that they can plan their invaluable time away from the business and refresh.
  • Being Heard
    You people need you to listen to then and hear them - really hear what they are saying and respond with action and/or acknowledgement. Be out there creating good, open relationships with your people and take in what they say - what's important to them - and deliver solutions to make conditions great.
  • Achievable Goals
    By being really, really clear about what you expect from your employees, you will set the scene for committed staff. Through knowing exactly what their performance should look like to be judged excellent, by you, gets buy-in, big-time. So be clear, give them the resources to achieve success and they will be well onside.
  • Being Thanked
    As they do a good job for you each day - tell them. It's easy - just say 'Thank You'! Appreciation for achieving success, especially when it's from the boss is so important. So recognising excellent performance, even for small tasks, cost nothing and takes but a moment - worth building into your day job activities - every day!
  • Challenge
    People like to do new things, to explore, to seek out and utilise their potential, Sometimes this means they will have to be 'stretched' in what they do. With a helping hand, to support, coach and grow the skills of your people, you are setting in place a keen, ambitious and ready-for-the-next-experience star in the making. So find new ways to develop them.
  • Security
    In today's business climate, it isn't always easy to build the best future consistently - things change too much, too quickly. But you can go some way to ensure that it is a safe place to be. With this level of security, your people will loosen up and feel capable of being with you, rather than against. It is a measure of your own leadership as to how well this works.

    These are basics for your people - get these right and you will be 85% there, in having motivated people working with you. Then you can turn on the charm, get radical and creative and find them right there alongside you (in front even!). Focused on building your business strongly.

    Copyright 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses- to-success.com. (Note to editors. Feel free to use this article, wherever you think it might be of value - it would be good if you could include a live link.

    ...helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow...

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Take a Turn at Tenacious!

    "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.... Read More

    How to Master Lifes Problems

    "Life is a Tiger-ride, by no means easy, but ride... Read More

    Get Off Your Butt and Create Your Financial Future?Now!

    Most people have no idea where their money goes. They... Read More

    Live Life with Gusto

    Life is a gift; live it with gusto everyday. Don't... Read More

    Living Outside the Lines of Normal and Reasonable

    Elizabeth Tull is a Professional Excellence Coach who lives with... Read More

    Motivation: The Cure for Complacency

    Q. I've always tried to work hard enough to provide... Read More

    If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It!

    "I have heard it said that the first ingredient of... Read More

    Every Passing Minute Is A Chance To Turn It All Around

    Every passing minute.When I first heard this line, in the... Read More

    Live On Fire

    Words seem inadequate to describe the beauty and abundance that... Read More

    Are You Facing Challenges? Then Make A Different Decision

    Many people don't really understand the gift they have been... Read More

    Prime That Pump! Part 3

    How healthy is your vision of yourself? How does your... Read More

    The Simple Secret To Lasting Motivation

    This is a key to lasting motivation and beating procrastination.If... Read More

    Awakening The Giant In You

    Deep within man dwells some vast slumbering powers and abilities... Read More

    Are You Lacking Self-Discipline? - Part 1

    A man does not live until he begins to discipline... Read More

    Magic In The Leadership Zone!

    "Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small... Read More

    10 Ways to Overcome Procrastination: The Challenge for Tomorrow!

    Did you realize that as much as 47% of the... Read More

    Keep the Channel Open

    Why do you do what you do? What is your... Read More

    Move On!

    I woke up one morning with a sharp pain in... Read More

    Why Holding A Vision Magnetizes Great Achievement

    The only reason some people enjoy success while others fail... Read More

    How to Use Discouragement to Motivate Yourself

    Ever feel like giving up? Do you ever feel so... Read More

    Succeed Like the Super-Successful

    Two undeniable traits of the super-successful are: their belief in... Read More

    Walking a New Road

    (excerpted from the Take Charge of Your Life 6 CD... Read More

    Fear

    As you prepare to take your first steps, could there... Read More

    How to Become an Effective Self-Help User

    "Know Yourself" That's what the big guy said way back... Read More

    Recommendations for the Best Personal Growth Books

    I can't stress this enough: You've got to motivate yourself... Read More

    Work, Action, Movement -You Cannot Get Anywhere Without It

    "You can't get anywhere in anything without work, action, movement..whatever... Read More

    Do you Live the Life you Desire?

    There comes a time in every person's life when you... Read More

    Chasing Your Dreams!

    Friends, it is always a power of your dreams and... Read More

    Do I have What It takes?

    What am I made of? Do I have what it... Read More

    This Emotion Is As Helpful As Ali-Baba And His Forty Thieves!

    Are you afraid of your own best ideas? Do you... Read More

    7 Great Life Lessons From Tsunami Survivor

    As I am writing this article, the world is shaken... Read More

    Who Do You Need To Become To Make It Happen For You?

    'We cannot become what we need to be remaining what... Read More

    Overcoming Procrastination

    What are the reasons that YOU procrastinate?Are you a perfectionist?Do... Read More