Motivation 101

Some of the most successful managers and executives have achieved their objectives by aligning the aims of their employees with those of their organization. Once an employee is able to understand, and empathize with, the overall aim of an organization, they are generally more motivated towards achieving them.

Having ensured that the organization and the employees are working towards the same objectives, managers can then focus on exactly which motivational techniques can be implemented to facilitate the achievement of these goals. A well-motivated workforce is generally a more productive workforce. It is also one which tends to experience lower stress levels and increased self-confidence.

It is clear there are both positive and negative motivational factors or fear or reward factors. For example, some managers believe that, by shouting, swearing or threatening employees with the termination of their contract, they can drive them to the achievement of their targets and objectives. This fear factor can indeed lead to good results in the short-term but, in the long-term, employees are likely to be more focused upon whether or not they will be keeping their jobs, rather than on fulfilling overall business objectives. Similarly, over-ambitious targets can also have a negative impact on employee motivation since there is only so much effort an individual is likely to put into their job when they feel neither valued nor rewarded as a result of their hard work.

Positive motivational factors are also many and varied and, although these may lead to long-term gains, they too can have negative aspects. Offering rewards and incentives is motivational, but it is important to make sure that these are deserved and that recognition is given to the right person at the right time. Also, although some healthy competition is advantageous, it is not necessarily advisable to use rewards to encourage employees to work against each other.

The first step towards achieving and maintaining a motivated workforce lies in understanding the differing factors which motivate individuals within a team something regarded as an inspiring force to one team member may be anathema to another. There are many ways of determining the motivations of your employees but probably the most successful way is simply to ask them. Although this may sound relatively obvious, by actually showing your employees you are interested in finding out what drives them, you are taking the first step towards motivating them. All employees like to feel valued and appreciated, so knowing their managers are concerned with making possible changes to their advantage will encourage them to be forthcoming with their feedback.

You can ascertain the opinions of the workforce either by holding a one-to-one meeting with members of the team or by asking them to complete feedback forms or questionnaires. You need to establish how they perceive the overall objectives of the business and exactly which processes or procedures used within the company motivate or demotivate them. You should try to identify forces which they consider to be their personal motivators both at home and at work. It is also important to understand whether or not they feel valued by the company in the same way as the company values its customers. If this is not the case, then their motivation levels may decrease as they, once again, feel undervalued. If they raise any particular concerns or issues such as overly long working hours or a lack of definable objectives, take care to address these otherwise the team may begin to feel that the whole exercise has been fruitless.

Having successfully identified exactly what motivates your staff, you then need to decide how best to go about setting up a motivating working environment.

Positive Imagery

Office walls and notice boards are ideal places to post signs with a motivational theme or message. This can take the form of slogans or quotes from inspirational celebrities or professionals or even positive pictures or posters. Positive imagery is a key to empowering your workforce as it can encourage their confidence and motivation. If they are able to visualize potential success or achievement in themselves, they are much more likely to demonstrate a desire to win.

Team Building Exercises

People's responses to team-building exercises are generally mixed. Some may feel uncomfortable being placed in what they may see as a competitive environment, whereas others will thrive. However, team-building exercises do have significant advantages in terms of encouraging people to work together in an environment outside of the office. They also present the opportunity for individuals to be part of a winning team, within a challenging situation, where each team member is placed on an equal footing from the outset. Strengthened relationships within a team can improve productivity, morale and motivation and result in a generally happier working environment. People are also encouraged to learn from each other in team-building exercises and the competition within a non-work environment is generally considered to be healthy. Activities outside of the office can help people to relax and to overcome any contentious issues or divisions that may have existed.

The key to successful team-building exercises is to ensure they are designed in such a way as to recognize the individual strengths and weaknesses of all the delegates, otherwise the competition may appear unbalanced. It is useful to encourage people to express their creativity while also enabling them to use their initiative and take the lead when required. All of these are considered to be motivational factors.

Training

It is indeed possible to train and coach your workforce to become more motivated. By clearly showing them how to break down challenges into easily achievable tasks using both instruction and demonstration, the team should feel less daunted by future tasks and projects, more able to cope and, therefore, more motivated. This form of training can take place either in the workplace or outside of it, for example, combined with a team-building exercise.

Improving Communication

Establishing and maintaining effective channels of communication with your staff is imperative in ensuring they understand the aims of the company and their role in achieving them. Communication involves both speaking and listening, so that mutual understanding is achieved. This too is essential for improving productivity and performance standards.

Setting Targets

Most people do tend to perform better when they have a target to work towards. This helps to drive them forward and keep them motivated and, if they achieve it, can significantly increase their self-confidence. However, it is essential that targets are not only challenging but also realistic. Someone who works as hard as they can to reach a target that is looking increasingly unattainable will eventually become demotivated and can end up under-performing.

Rewards and Incentives

Rewards do not necessarily have to be financial for them to be motivational. As already discussed, different people respond in different ways to the various incentives that a company can offer. Whilst some people are driven by a desire to earn more money, to be given a company car, or to receive additional financial incentives, others may respond more favourably to the prospect of promotion or additional responsibility. Others may prefer to receive formal recognition for their personal achievements. By giving people the opportunity to maximise their potential, they are generally far more motivated and the company itself will benefit from their increased productivity. On the whole, it is also important to remember that something which motivates you may not be the same as that which motivates your workforce. By understanding this, you will find that motivating your team becomes much easier.

In general, the most successful, motivated and productive workforce is one that feels valued, supported and challenged, with a clear direction and an understanding of the important role they play in the achievement of company objectives. The time and effort you have invested in ensuring your team is successful will reap benefits when team members begin to demonstrate increased levels of productivity and an ability to resolve complex issues without your direct involvement. Encouragement towards autonomous decision-making, and additional responsibility, will also help to make sure the team remains motivated by reassuring members of the value of the contribution they are making.