Employee Motivation : 20 Easy Ways to Motivate Your Coworkers & Employees

How do you boost employee morale and motivation? What are the factors affecting employee motivation? It takes more than just money to motivate. Effective leadership and supportive managers are essential for employees to feel valued, part of the team, and that they matter to the company. This employee motivation article discusses how leaders and managers can enhance their staff's experience to look forward to their working day.

Effective leadership within organizations recognizes that employee motivation is not just about increasing productivity; it's about enriching the work environment to cultivate an inspiring workspace. Managers can introduce recognition initiatives, such as publicly acknowledging achievements or offering rewards, which can significantly enhance motivation. Source: https://peoplethriver.com/why-is-employee-motivation-important/

Employee motivation techniques are essential to the success of organizations. Strong leadership and effective managers know how to motivate employees to get the best out of them. Motivated employees will work harder and dedicate themselves to the company's mission. Happy workers are more productive and more likely to stay with the organization than look elsewhere for another job.

Leaders and managers understand that aside from personal satisfaction, employees are also motivated by factors such as job security and competitive benefits, which help them feel more connected to their roles. Source: https://www.achievers.com/blog/employee-motivation/

It doesn’t matter what the business is, employee motivation in the private sector and the public sector are as important as each other. Strong leadership and capable managers within organizations play a crucial role in maintaining this motivation.

Consider this situation – the high-flyer you hired a year ago no longer seems motivated. They’re doing the minimum of work, not coming up with new ideas, not interacting, and seem like they want to be someplace else. How do leaders and managers improve their morale and motivation?

Rather than giving up on them, strong leadership suggests the first thing is to find out what the problem is. Managers should arrange an informal chat and find out why this person who was such a hard worker before now lacks motivation. Then address the problem and turn the situation around.

Effective leaders and managers should additionally consider the flexibility of their work arrangements within organizations. Providing options for remote work or flexible schedules can be a powerful motivator, enabling employees to better manage stress and balance personal responsibilities. Source: https://questionpro.com/blog/employee-motivation/

You may have to work out how to motivate an overwhelmed employee, how to make them feel valued, or how to give them a more challenging role. Whatever the issue is, supportive managers' efforts in addressing a demotivated employee will give them a boost.

According to motivation theory, there are two main types of employee motivation:

Intrinsic – personal challenges, job satisfaction, self-fulfillment

Extrinsic – physical rewards, salary, bonuses, gifts

It’s the employer’s role to facilitate employee motivation and figure out what employees need to motivate them. Effective leadership within organizations involves managers finding ways to make your company the one everyone wants to work for. It could be something as simple as ensuring equipment and systems such as the intranet work effectively, running an employee engagement survey, or buying the team lunch once a month.

Here are 20 ways to improve employee motivation :

1. Improve corporate and team culture

In effective organizations, leadership and managers understand that these are essential for a motivated workplace. Productivity improves when employees feel part of a team and a valued member of the company.

Company culture in organizations starts at the top and filters down. It’s reflected in a philosophy where everyone is equal and of value, and leaders contribute their skills to the objectives of the company. It includes working as part of a team and sharing knowledge and ideas.

How to manage remote and hybrid employees

Reflecting on the impacts of the pandemic on today's workforce, this white paper explores the most critical theories in leadership and management, as well as trends in organizations, and explains how you can improve processes in your company. 

2. Develop a modern work environment

Effective leadership understands that the work environment is one of the critical motivation strategies in organizations. A smart modern office fosters more success than an old building with peeling paint and bad decor.

The office should be a pleasure to work in, full of natural light, and a comfortable temperature. Strong leadership ensures employees will appreciate extras that enhance their experience, such as an area to chill, eat lunch, play games, and chat.

If you’re due for an office re-design, why not ask employees for their ideas? Effective leaders can incorporate employee feedback to enhance their experience.

3. Provide an Employee motivation platform

Another key motivation strategy in organizations is to supply a platform where everyone can work together, such as LumApps. Leaders and managers can utilize a cloud-based intranet as the perfect tool to do this. People can stay up-to-date with projects, collaborate with team members and colleagues, and have access to company information.

Leaders and managers know that this is a sure-fire way to promote employee motivation, develop team building and engage people in their work.

4. Provide transparent and clear communication

Clear communication from leaders and managers leads to positive outcomes. When employees are clear on their roles and what they should be doing, they feel motivated.

In organizations, leaders and managers believe that a company intranet is a way to achieve this. It can give access to whatever an employee needs to perform their job:

• Project schedules and briefs
• Technical data
• Marketing materials
• Employee handbooks
• Product information
• Internal news…

5. Encourage teamwork

Leadership fosters teamwork as the key to improved employee motivation. Working as a team ensures everyone feels valuable and plays a part in achieving a goal.

Leaders and managers facilitate this by allowing you to share ideas, solve problems and plan together with colleagues. This can take place as an intranet messenger chat, a virtual meeting or face-to-face.

6. Encourage innovation and creativity

Leaders understand that boredom destroys motivation. Allow employees to express their creative side and bring their ideas to projects. Just because someone works in accounts or the technical department doesn’t mean they don't have innovative ideas.

Leaders and managers can encourage employee engagement and motivation by inviting them to contribute ideas for new products, branding or a logo. Offer a prize for the winner. Being recognized for skills other than those we’re employed for can encourage a high level of motivation.

7. Express gratitude

Leaders and managers find that it’s easy to say thank you or well done. These simple words go a long way toward motivating someone and showing appreciation.

Leaders can implement another way to recognize good work through extrinsic rewards, for example, extra vacation days, vouchers, or travel. This gives employees something to work towards.

Within organizations, leaders can use the intranet to set up a reward page, where employees can earn points and see the prizes on offer.

The Future of Management: Remote & hybrid teams

Today's workforce is completely different than how we managed teams before the pandemic. This white paper explores critical leadership and management trends and theories in organizations and explains how you can improve processes in your company. 

8. Recognize a good job

Leaders and managers can catch people doing it right and acknowledge it. When someone tells us we’ve done a good job we feel motivated to do further good work. It boosts confidence to know we’re appreciated.

Leaders and managers should recognize that someone’s done something brave, for example reporting a hazardous or uncomfortable situation.

9. Express clear company goals

Effective leadership makes another motivating factor for employees: clearly defining the goals of the company. This means employees understand the bigger picture and where they fit into the company.

According to motivation theory, the impact of employee motivation on employee performance is important. Effective leadership ensures that if an employee knows why they’re doing their job and how it contributes to the company objectives, they feel confident in their role and will work more efficiently.

10. Give individual and team rewards

Leaders and managers can use this opportunity to achieve increased employee motivation by giving people something to work towards. If a team knows that if senior management accepts their project they get a free weekend in Paris or a trip to the Maldives, it’s an incentive to work hard. The same applies to individuals. Offering rewards can motivate and create healthy competition.

11. Provide a Positive communication

Leaders understand that positivity breeds motivation. Positively presenting new ideas and projects encourages employees to support the success of the company. When everyone understands the company goals, the level of employee motivation can increase dramatically.

Leaders and managers should apply this to problem-solving. If there’s an issue, it’s more likely to be solved if it’s addressed positively, over an informal cup of coffee, rather than with negativity.

12. Provide a Positive competition

Leaders and managers know that friendly competition is good in the workplace. This form of motivation works. It encourages team spirit and facing challenges in a positive way. This can take place through employee recognition, such as a page on the intranet that features the employee of the month. Competition doesn’t have to be cut-throat – if presented in the right way it can boost employee morale.

13. Build regular objectives with each employee

Leaders and managers shouldn’t wait until annual reviews to set objectives. Don’t wait until annual reviews to set objectives. If you regularly set each employee's individual objectives, they’re likely to devote a high level of energy and commitment to their job. Doing this will ensure employees are constantly motivated to achieve their targets, especially if they receive rewards.

Leaders and managers recognize this as a way to get to know employees, which makes them feel their manager has an interest in them as a person.

14. Include employees in decision making

Leaders and managers can use employee engagement to increase motivation by giving employees accountability and listening to their opinions. From setting up a survey on the intranet to asking what color the new product labels should be or finding out what people think of remote working, leaders can include employees in major decisions that affect their lives.

15. Ask employees for feedback

Leaders and managers know that this is another way to enhance motivation: by using intranet surveys. Within organizations, your employees can be your most important focus group when you launch a new product, plan to expand or introduce new systems. And leaders should not only ask for feedback but also show they’ve listened and considered people’s opinions. This will make employees feel they’re an important part of the company.

16. Discover what motivates each employee

According to leadership theory, money and material rewards don’t always encourage an employee to work harder. Of course, they help, but not everyone is motivated in the same way. Some people feel their career path is more important than incentives.

Leaders and managers understand that every person that works in an organization is an individual and should be treated like one. This means talking to people and asking what motivates them, which will build trust. Do this face-to-face or with an employee motivation survey that lists a series of employee motivation interview questions.

➝  Read more: 10 Great Ways to Empower Frontline Employees

17. Develop an easy work-life balance

Balancing our personal lives with work isn’t always easy. We have children, parents, partners, studies… An employer that understands this and allows fair vacations and time off for personal issues will motivate their staff.

When the right work-life balance is achieved, employees can concentrate on their work as they’re not worrying about external issues.

The Future of Management: Prioritizing the Employee Experience 

Reflecting on the impacts of the pandemic on today's workforce, this white paper explains the most critical trends in management and how you can improve processes in your company. 

18. Develop employee career paths

Leaders and managers know that people feel motivated when they have a clear career advancement path. If a promotion is in sight, it can promote better employee productivity. We feel motivated when we know we have a career goal. Every employee should be allowed to grow and develop with the company, to encourage them to give their best.

19. Provide regular training

Leaders understand that training can be inspiring and shows an understanding of the importance of employee motivation. It shows that managers are dedicated to helping their employees learn as much as they can about their job and how to do it better. Training outside of roles can also be a great motivator. For example, offering first-aid, budget management or computer training can motivate employees to expand their skills. Mentoring, led by experienced managers, is also a way to motivate as it offers guidance when someone is new to a role and can build their confidence.

20. Give employees autonomy

Leaders and managers trust people to do their jobs without constantly checking up on them. A good manager does this while letting their employees know they’re there for guidance if needed. Being left alone to do a job raises motivation as it reinforces the fact that the employee knows what they’re doing to complete their tasks.

Leadership understanding and enhancing worker motivation has become a pivotal aspect of fostering an environment in organizations that nurtures productivity and cultivates a culture of sustained engagement and satisfaction. Here are strategies and insights on how leaders and managers can increase employee motivation, by weaving in key elements that drive individuals to excel and remain committed over the long haul, including remote workers and the role technology plays.

Understanding What Motivates People to Work for a Company

Leaders and managers recognize that the reasons why people choose to work for and stay loyal to an organization are as diverse as the workforce itself. However, core motivators often include an appealing company culture, opportunities for professional growth, leadership-driven recognition, rewards, and a healthy work-life balance. Organizations that prioritize these aspects tend to attract and retain top talent. 

Strategies to Keep Workers Motivated in the Long Run

According to motivation theory, maintaining worker motivation over time requires a multifaceted approach :

• Offer Continuous Learning Opportunities: Leaders and managers should encourage professional development to keep your team members engaged and evolving.
• Foster a Culture of Recognition: Regularly acknowledge and reward employees for their hard work and achievements through effective leadership.
• Ensure a good Work-Life Balance: Promote policies that support a healthy balance between professional responsibilities and personal life within organizations.
• Create Clear Career Pathways: Show employees a clear trajectory for advancement within the organization through strong leadership and management.

Offer Continuous Learning Opportunities: Encourage professional development to keep your team members engaged and evolving.

Foster a Culture of Recognition: Regularly acknowledge and reward employees for their hard work and achievements.

Ensure a good Work-Life Balance: Promote policies that support a healthy balance between professional responsibilities and personal life.

Create Clear Career Pathways: Show employees a clear trajectory for advancement within the organization. 

‍

Motivating Remote Workers

Leaders and managers recognize that keeping remote workers motivated presents unique challenges and opportunities. Keep remote employees engaged with :

• Regular Check-ins: Leaders and managers should foster a sense of belonging and stay informed about remote employees' needs and challenges.
• Virtual Team Building: Invest in virtual team-building activities to strengthen connections and morale among remote teams.
• Offer Remote-Friendly Tools: Provide access to technology that facilitates collaboration and communication within organizations.

Regular Check-ins: Foster a sense of belonging and stay informed about their needs and challenges.

Virtual Team Building: Invest in virtual team-building activities to strengthen connections and morale.

Offer Remote-Friendly Tools: Provide access to technology that facilitates collaboration and communication. 

The Impact of Worker Motivation and Technology on Business Production Levels

According to leadership theory, a motivated workforce results in higher productivity. Technology plays a crucial role by enabling efficient workflows, increasing employee engagement and ensuring employee recognition. When employees feel motivated, they are more likely to do better at work, resulting in enhanced performance and innovation.

Increasing Worker Motivation

According to motivation theory, to boost motivation among your workforce :

• Implement Feedback Loops: Leaders and managers should use employee feedback to make meaningful changes and show that you value their input.
• Personalize Motivation Strategies: Recognize that each employee is motivated differently and tailor your approaches accordingly through leadership.
• Promote Autonomy: Trust employees with a degree of autonomy in their tasks to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Implement Feedback Loops: Use employee feedback to make meaningful changes and show that you value their input.

Personalize Motivation Strategies: Recognize that each employee is motivated differently and tailor your approaches accordingly.

Promote Autonomy: Trust employees with a degree of autonomy in their tasks to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Workplace Motivation Increases Employee Investment and Job Engagement

Leadership understands that highly motivated employees are more invested in their roles and display a higher level of job engagement. This investment manifests in numerous ways, including increased creativity, a willingness to go above and beyond their duty, and a deeper commitment to the company’s goals and values. Ultimately, a motivated workforce is a key driver of organizational success.

Additional Strategies for Enhancing Employee Motivation

Here are some additional strategies that leaders and managers have found successful:

Empower Employees with Autonomy

Leaders and managers should trust their employees to make decisions and take ownership of their projects. Empowering them with autonomy shall boost their confidence and motivation. This approach fosters a sense of responsibility and encourages innovative thinking.

Encourage Job Enrichment

Leaders and managers can focus on job enrichment by adding variety and meaning to employees' work. By rotating tasks, providing opportunities for skill development, and introducing challenging work, organizations ensure that their employees remain engaged and motivated.

Implement Goal-Setting and Performance Metrics

According to leadership theory, clear and achievable goals are essential for boosting employee motivation. Leaders and managers who are willing to boost employee motivation regularly implement goal-setting sessions where employees can outline their objectives and align them with the company’s vision. This not only improves productivity but also provides a sense of direction and accomplishment.

Foster a Culture of Recognition

Leaders and managers should, beyond formal recognition programs, encourage a culture where appreciation is part of the daily routine. Simple gestures like shout-outs in meetings or a quick note of thanks can significantly boost morale and motivation.

Promote Work-Life Integration

Leaders and managers recognize that now more than ever, work-life balance is crucial for employee well-being. Alongside flexible work policies, promote work-life integration through initiatives that allow employees to blend their professional and personal lives seamlessly. This approach helps reduce stress and increases overall job satisfaction.

Leverage the Power of Feedback

Leaders and managers understand that regular, constructive feedback is a pillar of organizational culture. Provide continuous feedback loops where employees receive timely insights into their performance. This helps them grow and adapt, leading to higher levels of motivation and engagement.

Enhance Team Dynamics

Leaders and managers know that strong team dynamics are vital for a motivated workforce. Invest in team-building activities and foster an inclusive environment where collaboration thrives. This not only strengthens relationships but also enhances collective problem-solving capabilities.

Align Individual and Company Values

Leaders and managers should ensure that your employees' personal values align with your organization’s values. This alignment creates a sense of belonging and purpose, driving employees to excel in their roles. Organizations can also regularly communicate their own mission and values, reinforcing their importance in everyday tasks.

Continuous Learning Opportunities

Leaders and managers in organizations should believe in lifelong learning and provide continuous opportunities for professional development. From workshops to online courses (thanks to our intranet platform), employees can have access to a wealth of resources that support their growth and enhance their skill sets.

Implement Well-Being Initiatives

Leaders and managers recognize that well-being initiatives go beyond physical health. Organizations can offer mental health support, stress management workshops, and wellness programs that cater to the holistic needs of their employees. A healthy and happy workforce is a motivated one.

Recognizing Efforts with Personal Touches

Leaders and managers should personalize recognition efforts by celebrating individual milestones and achievements in a meaningful way. LumApps has its own employee recognition feature in its intranet. Whether it’s a handwritten note or a custom reward, these personal touches make employees feel truly valued.

Engage Through Social Responsibility

Leaders and managers should ensure your employees are involved in social responsibility initiatives, allowing them to contribute to causes they care about. This engagement not only boosts motivation but also fosters a sense of pride in the organization’s impact on the community.

Encouraging Innovation and Creativity

Leaders and managers should create and provide an environment where innovation and creativity are encouraged. Employees are given the freedom to experiment and explore new ideas, leading to a more dynamic and motivated workforce.

Future Plans to Enhance Employee Motivation

Leaders and managers are planning several exciting initiatives to further enhance employee motivation:

Leadership Development Program

Leaders and managers are launching a comprehensive "Leadership Development Program" to nurture future leaders within the company. This program will provide training, mentoring, and clear pathways for career advancement, ensuring that employees have the tools they need to succeed.

Wellness Challenge Initiative

Leaders and managers are introducing a "Wellness Challenge" initiative that promotes healthier living and work-life balance. Employees can participate in various wellness activities and earn rewards for their progress, creating a fun and engaging way to prioritize health.

Personalized Benefits Package

Leaders and managers are enhancing your organization's benefits package to include more personalized and flexible options, in order to meet the diverse needs of your workforce, ensuring that every employee feels recognized and appreciated.

Remote Work Success Program

Leaders and managers are piloting a "Remote Work Success Program" to support employees in making the most of remote work. This program will include training on effective communication, time management, and wellness strategies, ensuring that remote work is both productive and enjoyable.

New Performance Management System

Leaders and managers are implementing a new performance management system that emphasizes continuous feedback and recognition. This system will ensure that achievements and hard work are acknowledged in real-time, fostering a culture of ongoing appreciation.

Expanded Learning and Development Offerings

Leaders and managers are expanding learning and development offerings to include more on-demand and self-paced resources. This will make professional growth more accessible and tailored to individual needs, supporting continuous employee growth.

By implementing these strategies, leaders and managers in organizations aim to create a workplace where employees are not only engaged and productive but also inspired and motivated to reach their full potential.

Discover our latest content on Employee Engagement

• What is Employee Engagement? Benefits, Strategies & Steps
• Why is Employee Engagement so Important? TOP 20 Benefits
• Best 15 Employee Engagement Strategies in 2023
• What is Brand Advocacy? How do You Build and Drive it?
• 10 Steps to Create a Strong Employee Engagement Action Plan
• 30 Employee Engagement Best Practices to Follow in 2023
• 15 Key Factors Influencing Employee Engagement in 2023
• 50+ Employee Engagement Ideas and Strategies for Companies
• Top 10 Employee Engagement KPIs: The Metrics to Measure
• 15 Best Features for Your Employee Engagement Software
• Top 30 Questions to Conduct an Employee Engagement Survey
• 20 Easy Ways to Motivate Employees
• Top 10 Employee Retention Strategies & Ideas to Set up
• Employee Social Advocacy for HR and Recruiters
• 10 Great Ways to Empower Frontline Employees | LumApps
• How Employee Advocacy Can Help Your Brand Build Trust
• How to measure employee satisfaction: Best methods and key metrics to track
• How to Boost Morale at Work? 30 Strong Ideas
• 15 Proven techniques to keep employees engaged and motivated
• The HR Guide to Effective Employee Engagement Metrics
• Top 10 Ways to Improve Employee Satisfaction
• Social Advocacy for Business Benefits
• 6 Tips To Build a Strong Employee Advocacy Program
• 30+ Virtual Team Building Activities for Companies in 2023
• Employee Advocacy on Social Media: Benefits, Examples & Strategies
• What is Employee Retention and How to Manage it?
• A Guide for Reducing Employee Turnover

‍