| One of the important keys to employee motivation is | | | | environment for your employees to share their ideas. |
| to empower your employees to be successful. An | | | | Remember, the idea that doesn’t make sense |
| empowered employee leads to the following benefits: | | | | today might be exactly the solution you are looking for |
| | | | a week from now. |
| * Increased creativity | | | | Always give your employees credit for the ideas they |
| * Increased productivity | | | | express. Nothing will decrease employee motivation |
| * Increased teamwork and motivation | | | | and dry up the flow of ideas quicker than having |
| * Increased initiative | | | | managers take credit for their employees’ ideas. |
| * Increased ownership of work | | | | If your employees are coming up with ideas, reward |
| * Reduced employee turnover | | | | them publicly. You will be amazed how the flow of |
| * Reduced human resources situations | | | | ideas from motivated employees will increase with |
| * Better work environment | | | | each public recognition. |
| * Increased results for your organization | | | | 6. Motivate Your Employees by Letting Them Run |
| * Increased career opportunities | | | | Your Meetings |
| The following are ten motivation techniques to | | | | One of the best ways to motivate and empower your |
| jumpstarting your employee motivation and | | | | employees is to involve them in running your |
| empowering your team to outstanding results: | | | | meetings. Of course, you will set the agenda; but |
| 1. Motivate Your Employees to Find Solutions | | | | there are many opportunities for you as a leader to let |
| Encourage your employees to be solution creators | | | | your employees run portions of or the entire meeting. |
| instead of problem creators. When employees | | | | Take the time to work with the designated employees |
| communicate a problem to you, look at it as an | | | | ahead of time so that they are confident with the |
| opportunity to empower the employees. Ask the | | | | assigned meeting tasks. During the meeting, you are |
| employees how they would solve the problem, | | | | there to support them and help with any sections of |
| express your confidence that they are the person to | | | | the meeting that may provide a challenge for them. |
| solve the problems, give them the tools to solve the | | | | I suggest that you allow as many opportunities for |
| problem, and follow up with them. You have just | | | | different employees to lead different meetings as |
| empowered those employees to find ways in the | | | | possible. By allowing your employees to play |
| future to create solutions and made your team more | | | | leadership roles in your meeting, you will develop your |
| productive at the same time. | | | | employees for future opportunities and open additional |
| 2. Motivate Your Employees by Soliciting Opinions | | | | opportunities for you as a leader. |
| Many times during our busy work day, we find it | | | | 7. Motivate Your Employees by Embracing Mistakes |
| difficult to ask for opinions from our employees. But | | | | Without mistakes, there is no growth. Allowing your |
| just the act of asking for their opinions tells your | | | | employees to make mistakes allows your employees |
| employees that you value their input and motivates | | | | to grow, be creative, and provide a vehicle for |
| them to accomplish more. Just imagine, it may be the | | | | empowerment. Create a safe work environment so |
| first time that an employer has ever asked them for | | | | that when your employees make mistakes, they are |
| their opinion, and they appreciate it. | | | | not punished. Use the mistakes your employees |
| 3. Motivate Your Employees by Managing to Their | | | | make as learning experiences. Ask your employees |
| Level | | | | how they would have performed the task differently |
| Learn your employees’ skill, experience, and | | | | and allow them to tackle the task again. Your |
| motivation levels for performing workplace tasks. | | | | employees will gain a new sense of empowerment |
| Then assign the task and follow-up based on your | | | | and feel confident that you will support them when |
| findings. For example, you may need to follow up | | | | they try something new. |
| more frequently with an employee who is fairly new to | | | | 8. Motivate Your Employees by Assigning Leadership |
| the project or organization as opposed to the | | | | Roles |
| “veteran” employee who doesn’t need much | | | | Leadership comes at all levels and doesn’t require |
| follow-up. Remember, the most skilled employee | | | | a title. Take the time to align your employees’ |
| may not be the most motivated for performing the | | | | skills with leadership opportunities. Make sure you |
| task you request. | | | | provide training in the areas of opportunities for each |
| 4. Motivate Your Employees by Delegating Tasks | | | | employee so that they are empowered to step up to |
| Delegation is one of the most powerful motivation | | | | new opportunities. |
| tools for empowering employees in the workplace. | | | | 9. Motivate Your Employees by Rewarding Initiative |
| The sheer act of your delegating a task shows your | | | | Create rewards for employees who take initiative. |
| employees that you have the confidence in them that | | | | Publicly recognize employees during meetings, with |
| they can do the job. Make sure you understand the | | | | reward boards, etc., so that other employees are |
| task to be delegated so that you can clearly and | | | | motivated to take initiative. |
| concisely communicate how to do the task and hand | | | | 10. Motivate Your Employees by Getting Goal Setting |
| off “ownership” of the task to the employees. | | | | Buy-In |
| Delegation is providing your employees with ownership | | | | Your employees will be far more motivated to achieve |
| of the task, providing the tools for successfully | | | | your goals if they are allowed to help develop those |
| completing the task, expressing the reward and | | | | goals. Involve your employees in the goal setting |
| consequences for completing the task and following | | | | process and get their input so that it becomes |
| up accordingly. | | | | believable for them. Once your employees feel |
| 5. Motivate Your Employees by Encouraging Ideas | | | | ownership of your goals, they will be motivated to |
| Ideas are the lifeblood of any organization, department, | | | | move quickly to help accomplish your goals. |
| and team. I always say that every mind is too | | | | Apply these employee motivation tips and you will |
| important to miss that one idea that can increase | | | | motivate your team, achieve greater results, and |
| productivity, reduce expenses, or increase profit. | | | | quickly accomplish your goals. |
| Empower your employees by creating a safe | | | | |