Importance of Employee Motivation

Do you know what inspires your employees? As an employer, it is a part of your job to be aware. Employee motivation not only involves providing a pay cheque, it is about constructing the right workplace culture and providing a positive experience. Your employees should not be there to check in, check out, and then go home. They should be dedicated towards the success of your business.

Main Reasons to Motivate Your Employees

There are numerous advantages to motivating your employees. When you take the time to create a bright workplace culture and employee experience, you will find:

• Increased Productivity;

• Better Performance; and

• Higher Retention.

Employee Motivation is not only About the Incentives and Perks

When business owners think about what motivates their employees to do what is expected, there are a couple of points that often come up. The first, being that it’s about increasing their pay and second, as providing more employee perks. While both are highly motivating factors, there are additional strategies for enhancements without spending more than you’ve budgeted.

20 Ways to Motivate Employees for Small Business Without Budget

Driving staff motivation doesn’t mean that you have to increase your spend, especially when you own a small business and don’t have the funds for it. While incentives and work benefits are effective strategies to motivate an employee, here are 20 ways that will not cost you additional dollars.

1. Communicate openly and be transparent

2. Introduce an open door policy

3. Fulfill your promises

4. Construct a cooperative community-like culture

5. Get to know your staff as people

6. Understand your employees’ ambitions

7. Provide guidance or coaching

8. Let your staff take the lead and/or give them autonomy

9. Include staff in decision-making conversations

10. Consult your employees for their ideas

11. Encourage learning opportunities often

12. Define individual targets and provide support to achieve them

13. Extend specific and sincere praise (sometimes a simple ‘thank you’ means a lot)

14. Have recognition or kudos wall in a public area

15. Focus on positivity, rather than criticisms

16. Reduce workplace negativity

17. Provide work-life balance

18. Agree to flexible work hours

19. Volunteer together

20. Ask for feedback and suggestions to make improvements