staff motivation

[BusinessAdviser]

Have you tried making it fun? I had a friend who would put up a picture of the ceo of his competition and if anyone had to go to the bathroom they had to grab a hockey stick and shoot a tennis ball and hit the picture. 3 trys or no go. Everyone started trying to distract the shooter to make them have to sit down for 30 minutes. Everyone would stop working for 30 seconds and laugh. he never had employees quitting. He also (and many fortune 500 companies too) are starting to offer a sleeping room where every day, any employee can take ONE 20 minute nap. Companies like nike and i believe google are finding the employees can now work consistantly til the end of the day. The logic is that if employees are tired, they slow down at 2 or 3 (usually shortly after lunch) if they have a nap they work til 5. It means you actually GAIN an hour or two from each of them.

Another option. Find out what their family wants. Heres my logic. I had a marketing firm. Always paid commision, So I found out what my employees wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, or husbands of my employees goals were and told them to tie eachothers goals together. So if my employee gets to this level, or does this in sales or gets promoted or whatever, then they would take out their significant other on their wants. What this does is makes the loved ones at home (which should mean more to them than you do as the boss) the motivator.
Story
My girl wanted to go to niagra falls canada. Cost me about $2000. So I said when I get to this next promotion I will take you. Well when I worked 12 hours a day 6 days a week trying to help my team, she was at home pumped for me, not lonely and naggy. When I came home it was 'Im proud of you' not 'Why you home so late?'
Get it. Love is the greatest motivator. Help them get what they want (appreciation) and you will get what you want (appreciation... look up the definition and relate it to everything in life) Thats one of few words that matter to living abundantly or accomplishing anything.

Great advice. No need to elaborate further. Any other postings providing specific "do this" or "do that," don't follow them. Learn what's at the heart of this message, and then learn how to motivate your employees.

[Lizapotter]

Paying extra money for jobs with difficult hours will usually encourage people to apply for the work.

A loyalty bonus can be used to persuade workers to stay with their employer for a long period of time. Employees may not want to work longer than their contracted hours but they can often be persuaded to do so by receiving a higher rate of pay.

Also instead of giving money as a perk, the employer might provide:

* cars
* health insurance
* free uniform
* discounted products
* first class travel

It is often cheaper for the employer to provide goods rather than the money to buy them with. A good perk will make an employee reluctant to leave the business.

[.Andy]

Well most of my reps are on commission. I reward those that are doing good with random incentives like them choosing there own scheduale (If they want nights great dont want them I'll push it to another employee) ect.

[clabrat]

I think the main goal for a manager is to align their resources (staff) with the direction of the company. If they are not align, people will not be motivated to produce.

[nonrate]

There is a lot of good advice in here. In my experience, as both a manager and a staffer, I found motivation is different for each person. For me, I always wanted to be on a project with high visibility/status, knowing that it was important or vital to the success of the organization I was working with, and to have the focus to be "the best you can be" rather than just good enough. Of course, in the real world, that idealism is not always realistic.

Others I have found like just being given a well structured job and to have the space to do it. Others like having control over their work environment and decisions.

I'd say you might want to try and test the advice here with your employees. What's key is "measuring", keeping tabs on what's working and what's not.

Pay is not always a 100% motivator. I had plenty of chances to work "up the chain" and be in a very high bracket right now for pay. But to do what motivates me does not exactly pay very well, at least up front (building a business), but I am able to work on projects that are more enjoyable to me and in the type of environment I enjoy. I hate cubicles! Best of luck.

[andrewlm]

Bad leader - manages his employees.
Good leader - LEADS his employees.

I agree with you!!

[clabrat]

Great post, I agree that a reward based system would keep employees loyal and happy.

[Deal_Maker]

Let them feel needed and like they are contributing real value to the firm. They will only be motivated if there's something in it for them. If they feel like it's their project, they will be motivated to do well. Simple as that.

[mwormald]

I can personally tell you that Money is not a motivator in the long run. Providing a great work environment that has open communications works best. Money is not a tool to motivate.

M

[mwormald]

The great thing about your business plan is honesty. Most business plans are designed for banks, investors, or business partners. These business plans are always fake. Your business plan is as stated a "blue print." it’s the honest truth about what you are attempting to create. You should include what you are looking to make in the future. At the moment services may be free but unless this is a non-profit organization I suggest you predict profits.

[Joshyybaxx]

I would suggest not essentially what you need to do to motivate staff, but look at it another way, ask the employee's what actually demotivates them.

I believe this would be a far greater way to work on this issue rather then using your management skills trying to motivate staff. And at the same time actually providing the staff with things that will remove demotivation.

So essentially don't worry about motivation, worry about whats demotivating the staff, and rectifying these issues, creating a happier workplace.


Just my thoughts,

Josh

[Anca]

Knowing and understanding your employees is a big advantage. First, you do not have to forget that they are humans as well. You have to understand their problems and their needs. do your best to help them solved their home problems (as much as possible, of course) and they will be all yours during the working hours at the office and you will have productive employees

[gambit]

Money talks

[BALLERMODE]

Money talks

Uh, yeah...totally agree. Especially in today's economy. Whenever I was at work, it wasn't because I was there to be praised, make friends, or save the manatees. It was because I was there to make MONEY. I didn't care what anyone else thought, or how I was treated. If there was something I didn't like, I figured out a way to deal with it in order to achieve my goals- which were always ultimately about how much money I could make.

Although, I do realize not everyone is as hardcore about making money and some people do need their hands held. So, you really have to feel your team out individually, depending on how you want it to be run.

Curious to know what kind of business Trotters_Traders is referring to though.

[ngodavinet]

I agree:

Tying incentive pay to status, however, can motivate employees. For example, ranking your sales employees based on highest incentive pay (due to most sales) can motivate your staff to try harder to compete

rgs