The best ways to motivate employees

Motivating employees can be challenging, particularly in a growing organisation. But motivation is integral to the success of your business. Without motivation, employees become lacklustre, morale nose dives and productivity wanes, leading to poor business performance.

Motivating your employees is more than just sprinkling a few pizza parties and beer Fridays. It’s about truly understanding what motivates them and trying to facilitate it as best you can.

Even if you think your staff are already motivated, there’s always room for a little improvement, so keep reading to learn more about motivating employees.

Why is it important to motivate your employees?

• An increase in productivity. Feeling motivated is directly linked to productivity. So, without motivation, employees aren’t as productive, which means work isn’t completed as efficiently as it could be.
• Better employee satisfaction. A happy employee is more likely to produce fantastic results for your business. They feel more valued, confident and effective in their work, making them the perfect drivers of growth in your business.
• Retain top talent. If employees feel motivated, they’re 87% less likely to look for another job. So, by prioritising motivation techniques, you can keep hold of your best talent, attract more top talent, and remain competitive in your industry.
• Improved company culture. When employees feel motivated, they’re more likely to work together on ideas, breeding innovation and spreading positivity throughout the company. Being known for this kind of culture can help improve your brand reputation, particularly important for recruitment.

8 ways to motivate your employees

So, where can you start? Here are eight ideas to help you motivate them.

1. Reward incentives

Who doesn’t love a rewards scheme? Rewards can look like gift cards, subscription services or an extra day’s annual leave. Ask around and gather everyone’s incentive ideas to make sure you’re offering something employees actually want.

2. Regularly praise employees

Team members want recognition for their hard work, and that doesn't always have to take the form of monetary rewards. Instead, showing you appreciate the hard work they've done in front of others, in team meetings, for example, can help show you value them, boosting their morale and job satisfaction.

3. Encourage teamwork and collaboration

Collaboration is key to project success. Without it, everyone isn’t working toward the same goals. By encouraging teamwork and collaboration, employees benefit from knowledge sharing, furthering their skills and being part of a collective team effort.

4. Set realistic goals and objectives

If your company goals aren't realistic, i.e. fundraise £1 million in three months, your employees can lose motivation rapidly. However, setting realistic goals helps keep employees motivated, with focus and direction.

5. Invest time in training and development

Offering employees the opportunity to learn and develop their skills shows you’re willing to invest in their future and that you care about them unlocking their full potential. The good news is if you’re willing to invest in continual learning and development opportunities, 76% of employees are more likely to stay with your company.

6. Demonstrate respectful management

Your employees need to feel their opinions are valued, so always model respectful employment management by listening to their concerns and acting accordingly, sharing positive feedback and regular praise, or looking out for their well-being.

7. Pay fairly

Fair pay should be a given, but many organisations don't hit the average salary brackets for their industry. Transparency around pay can attract new talent to your company, and by benchmarking salary industry averages, your employees can feel more motivated knowing they're being compensated fairly.

8. Offer remote and flexible working

Spending an hour commuting to work, to sit and stare at the same screen for the next eight hours, might not be the motivating environment your employees need to excel. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can improve employee motivation, so helping them achieve this balance has never been more important.

If your industry allows, consider introducing flexible working policies or remote working policies that can help give your employees a little more control over how and when they work best.

Before you go

Consider taking the time to speak with employees or introduce an anonymous suggestions box for how to better motivate them. There’s no point in introducing a new strategy to motivate them if they don’t think it’ll work. You need everyone on board and heading in the same direction.

If you lack the working capital to invest in new hires, office equipment and software, or training costs, you can apply for a business loan with flexible and affordable repayment plans. Our free loan comparison tool can help you find and compare business loans in seconds. Get your free quote.