Wednesday, March 7, 2012

E-Tip # 382: 6 Tips For Motivating Employees

Greetings!

Most managers have a misconception that money is the #1 motivator for employees. According to many psychologists who study work behavior, there are many things that motivate people to act; however, as one desire is satisfied, another one takes its place. Money and job security are two of the primary things people need, but there are more important needs that all people crave. These include love and esteem, which can be achieved by feeling recognized and appreciated.
One of the best ways to provide recognition and appreciation is through the use of rewards. To make rewards work for your business, you must first follow certain basic guidelines. Below, you can find tips for following these guidelines:


6 Tips For Motivating Employees With A Reward Program


Tip #1: Design Rewards Based On People's Specific Needs - When designing a reward program(s), take into account individual personalities and preferences. Once you design an appropriate award, make sure it also addresses the group's overall needs. For the most part, it does not have to be an expensive reward. For example, many people will be motivated, or go the extra mile, in order to have their name placed on a plaque.

Tip #2: Give A Reward For Attaining The End-Result - Rewards should be based on what was actually accomplished - but setting the bar too low or too high will have a negative effect on your team's performance, so plan accordingly. It could be a stretch, although attainable, to give people something to strive towards.

Tip #3: Give Rewards When Goals Are Achieved - Rewards and recognition should be given out immediately after the desired behavior is achieved. If you delay the reward or recognition long after the achievement is met, it does little to motivate an employee.

Tip #4: Involve Your Employees In The Design Process - Make employees part of the design process - especially with reward programs that directly effect them. People gain a sense of belonging and importance when they have input on the type of goals they should be achieving.

Tip #5: Have Regular Meetings To Keep Everyone Up-To-Date - If you have regularly scheduled meetings to keep all employees informed about the company's goals, it will help everyone feel as though they belong to the organization. Plus, it keeps them informed on the overall progress they are making - which is a great long-term motivator. This is a wonderful time to give recognition for any achievements, whether or not those accomplishments are connected to a reward program.

Tip #6: Listen To Your Employees - It is no secret that the #1 way to improve your organization is to ask your employees how to get things done better, faster and cheaper - your employees have the best insight on improving the operations, since they deal with the systems/processes on a daily basis. To keep your employees involved with the refining of your business, make a point to give full credit (as well as reward them with something tangible) to the ones who were directly involved with the idea.

Executive Summary: A reward program is a great way to motivate your employees. When creating such program, it is important to tailor it around your employees' specific needs and interests. Also, involve your employees in the crafting of the program, and meet with them regularly to keep them updated of the intended goals that warrant the rewards. Another important aspect of a rewards program is instant gratification; that is, be sure to not delay the distribution of rewards.
These tips are a great way to get the most productivity out of employees, while at the same time increasing morale.


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