v9
Ways to Motivate Your Workforce
by Dr. John Weaver, Business
Psychologist and Executive Coach
- Provide positive recognition.
The pride of workmanship begins and is
sustained by recognition for a job well done. It matters to your employees
when you notice they are doing a good job. You might write a personal “thank
you” for completion of a special project. Or you might express a word of
gratitude to an employee who brings in a new account. When a customer
compliments an employee, be sure to pass it along. Extraverts on your staff
will respond strongly to public recognition like an award. The introverts
prefer the personal word or note as an incentive to continue to excel.
- Offer opportunities for
professional development. Work is a major
element of the lives of your employees. The overwhelming majority of workers
want to do a good job. It makes them feel better about themselves. When you
offer opportunities to develop as a professional, you offer them the
opportunity to increase their self-esteem and benefit your organization at the
same time. This is truly a win-win situation.
- Give your employees the tools
they need to succeed. Many employees are
working harder than ever before, but are frustrated because they do not have
the resources they need to do the job. When you provide the tools to be
successful, employees can excel in their work. It can be enlightening to ask
members of your workforce, “Do you have what you need to do your job?”
- Encourage the development of
positive friendships on the job. For many
employees, the workplace is a primary source of social support. Social support
is positively associated with resilience and physical health. Even when the
job is difficult, workers may look forward to being at work because they have
friendships that sustain them. Resilient and healthy workers also have lower
absenteeism and contribute to lowered health insurance premiums.
- Organize work in teams and reward
teamwork. In addition to the benefits of
social support, there is a powerful synergy to teamwork. When employees work
together to complete tasks, there is greater creativity, more careful
attention to detail, and higher levels of productivity. Establishing effective
teams requires careful selection, communication, leadership and support that
foster the common goals of the team and of the organization as a whole.
- Communicate.
Communication is a powerful motivator. When an employer establishes real
communication, employees can effectively contribute to the goals of the
organization. Communication processes must include both listening and
speaking. You have two ears and only one mouth. For the most effective
communication, you should use them in proportion.
- Identify the strengths of your
employees. It is in the area of strengths
that real potential is discovered. An excellent performer is not one who has
no weaknesses; an excellent performer is one who has learned to act from his
or her strengths. Employees are highly motivated to do what they do best.
- Do the right thing.
Leaders who inspire are those who do what is right even when it is difficult
to do so. Integrity is a quality that people recognize and value. It may be
tempting to do the expedient thing, or the thing that will make the most
money, but the cost will be loss of the ability to lead. People will make
great sacrifices to be associated with someone who is willing to stand up for
what is right.
- Articulate a clear and compelling
vision. Put the values of the organization
into words. By telling your workforce what the organization stands for, it
helps them to see the “bigger picture.” It helps them to understand how their
efforts can make a positive difference in their lives and in the lives of
their families. If as a leader, you are doing the right thing, these values
ring true and the efforts of your workforce will be focused on excellence.
© Copyright 2002. John Weaver. All rights reserved.
To contact Dr. John Weaver
for a FREE ½ hour consultation to find out if executive coaching is right for
you, send an email to:
mailto:jweaver@psychologyforbusiness.com or call (262) 798-2728.