How to Motivate Your Employees

As a new business owner and entrepreneur, you are ready to set the world on fire.  You have a strong urge that motivates you to put in as many hours and accomplish as many tasks as possible in your 24 hour day.  Sadly, this may be one-sided enthusiasm that may not be shared with your employees.  Managers are finding it more difficult trying to find the secret to motivating their employees.  There are no secrets, just hard work and innovative thinking and actions.  Some actions that may be beneficial:

1. Have an Open-Door Policy – Having an open door policy is a good start to getting your employees engaged and feel confident that they can reach you if needed. Actions as simple as “Good Morning Joe” or just a simple hello using the employee’s name creates a friendly and pleasant work environment.  Be mindful of this open door policy and make sure you manage it appropriately so as not to make it overly disruptive.
2. Be Transparent – Communication is paramount. It is important that you are open with your employees.  They must feel engaged, that their input matters and that there are no surprises in company matters.  Use employee input when making company decisions and let them know that they are being acknowledged and thanked for their input into these company decisions.
3. Establish Trust – Employees feel more part of your organization if you establish the trust between yourself and the employee. Let them know that their input matters and that you trust their input.  Confidence goes a long way in establishing this trust.
4. Set The Example – Normally employees will emulate your actions.  If you expect them to work hard, you have to set the example by leading by example.  Work hard but be pleasant.  Your pleasant mood and hard work will go a long way to motivating your employees to follow your example.
5. Create Advancement Opportunities – The employee that is looking for opportunities to advance within your organization, will be highly motivated by these opportunities.  By offering incentives such as training and counseling that may assist your employee in climbing your company’s career ladder, will be very well received by employees that are looking for advancements.  Happy and satisfied employees go a long way towards establishing a healthy and vibrant workplace that will establish your company as an excellent place to work in.
6. Provide Employee Incentives – Incentives can be an easy means to motivate your employees. Some incentives:  Extra time off, Free pizza day, Free, or reduced coffee and drinks, “Blue Jean” Fridays, Gift cards, etc.
7. Establish Attainable Goals and Objectives – Employees can be motivated if they know that they are included in this practice. Set these goals in a framework that is attainable.  Do not make goals so difficult that they will demoralize an employee because they are not attainable.  You can set individual goals and team goals.  As goals are attained, the individual or team can be rewarded with any number of actions.  Ie: a day off, a company picnic, lunch, etc.

Employees are naturally motivated.  The business owner’s challenge is to establish a trusting and pleasant workplace and understand what motivates employees that will help him accomplish business goals.  An owner’s relationship with employees is a strong factor in their ability to motivate employees.  The work culture consists of an environment in which employees are trusted, treated like the adults they are, and not micromanaged.

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