Employee motivational tools

It is of key importance that every manager tries to create the zeal to work among employees and consequently motivate them. Motivation serves as an effective instrument that inspires the work force to achieve organisational goals.

However, although employees may be greatly capable of performing some work, nothing can be achieved if there is lack of willingness. In simple terms, motivation can be referred to as the creation of a will to work. It is effective and successful not only in having an order or instruction accepted but also in gaining a determination to ensure that it is accomplished efficiently and effectively.

Take for instance in both the public and private sectors many experiences have shown that most Nigerian workers have been frustrated out of their jobs due to dissatisfaction with their jobs or lack of good training policies or even absence of incentives which then leads to low morale in working behaviour.

No matter how vast the financial and materials resources may be, a human element will have to put them together and make them useful in order to accomplish the set goals and objectives.

The extent to which an organisation can adopt, maintain itself, survive and grow in the face of changing conditions depends largely on how effective and efficient the human resource can be managed and utilised.

It is important to note that, an organisation cannot survive without human resources, therefore the role of employees cannot be overemphasized. The human resource which serves as the life wire of an organisation, is the only resource blessed with the capabilities of thinking, planning, executing and achieving organisational goals.

Furthermore, with all of these major roles played by human resource in an organisation, it reveals how much their motivation should be given top priority. The expectation of every management in an organization is for employee to put in their best to achieve the goals of that organization. The employee should be given an opportunity to express his views and due importance should be given to them by the management while framing policies.

It is determined by the environment at the workplace. It measures the larger personal satisfaction that the employees are deriving from working in an organization.

There are few factors that impact the quality of work-life of the employees in a major way. Some of them are stated below. An equitable pay, a certain share in the profits to the employees so that they also benefit in case the company progresses is one of the most important factors determining the quality of work-life of the employees.

Employees nowadays look forward to a larger range of benefits much beyond just health and safety. Stability of employment is a very important factor to make an employee feel committed and stay loyal to the organization.

Hire and fire policy, layoffs and constantly being at the mercy of the employer is strongly opposed in any organization. Various measures like an atmosphere of trust and open communication, recognition of work done followed by rewards, training and development etc also enhances a workers quality of life.

The different tools by which quality of work-life programs can be measured and evaluated are — turnover data, morale surveys, number of grievances handled, absenteeism data etc. In order to motivate the employees towards better standards and higher levels of productivity, variable pay programs play a very effective role. If the employees are paid on the basis of time of the job and seniority their drive to excel dies down as they know that they will be paid the same amount even if they work and produce bare minimum results.

Under piece-rate pay an employee receives remuneration according to the number of units produced or job completed for e. There is no regular fixed income. Since the payment is on the basis of the result and not the time spent on the job, it helps reduce idle time. It encourages efficient workers as they are able to make more money than the others due to their high productivity levels. Under merit-based pay, there are certain criteria for which the performance of the employee is measured and rated.

Good performers get motivated as they feel that they are being compensated fairly according to their individual contributions to the organization. They are motivated further to keep up and enhance their good work for career growth.

It also helps retain to employees as they feel they are being done justice to and they do not get lured by greener pastures outside the organization. Bonus is paid up and above the regular basic salary. It is paid yearly or bi-yearly. Bonus acts as a gesture of appreciation of the hard work put in by the employees that produce great results. It may also be paid to the entire group in case the group is able to achieve the desired goal.

This helps to keep them motivated to work together towards a common goal with a healthy team spirit. Under this incentive plan, the company divides a portion of its profit in a certain pre-determined percentage amongst the eligible employees. This motivates the employees as not only their hard work is being appreciated but they also feel a sense of satisfaction and commitment to the organization. This in turn further increases employee productivity and morale leading to higher financial gains.

Financial bonuses, a lunch party, time off or a gift certificate for meeting milestones can motivate everyone. Creating a positive culture is a great way to maintain the motivation of your employees.

The easiest way to do this is to radiate positivity yourself. Play music, joke around, play games, laugh and just have fun. Research shows that happiness can significantly boost the productivity of your workplace. Enjoy being in the office and consistently showcase high energy. A good mentor can offer encouragement, advice and understanding about the trials and successes employees encounter. If your employees work in a specialized field that friends and family do not understand well, a mentor can be invaluable in helping them sort through concerns and appreciate their successes.

Create a mentorship program within your department where you pair more experienced employees with ones who have less experience to guide them along their career journey and offer words of advice and encouragement daily. Related: How to Find a Mentor. Establish an office environment that is both comfortable and inspirational. Add color to the walls and put up motivational posters.

If your workplace uses cubicles, encourage your employees to decorate their own space in a way they enjoy. Also, encourage your team to keep their workspaces clean and tidy, as clutter can rapidly begin to feel chaotic.

Encourage employees to de-stress and take breaks during the workday. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.

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