The Secret to Maintaining Employee Motivation

Some people are motivated by money or materialisticnot an inch more. This is no way to inspire people. This
things, but in my experience this form of motivationis also called fear motivation. You never get the most
usually only lasts a short time. Once the individual hasout of people if you try and motivate them by fear.
become accustomed to their pay rise or the companyPeople will only do enough to quell the threat.
car, they have now set a new comfort zone forFor the managers and supervisors out there, I am
themselves. However, if working conditions or poorgoing to give you the secret to employee motivation
management skills from immediate bosses have notand it doesn't mean providing child minding facilities or
been addressed or improved you will see employeegiving everyone a gym membership or a yearly flu
motivation return to where it once was. They will doinjection. It is so simple and costs absolutely nothing.
just enough to keep the bosses happy.Are you ready? Here it is..
I was once asked by the CEO of a company what heSimple acts that genuinely and sincerely recognise
could do to motivate his staff. I explained that not oneindividuals for their effort and contribution to the
motivational technique will work for everyone.company will motivate people.
Everybody is motivated by different things and inI know, it seems so simple - but it works and you
different ways. After interviewing each individualwould be amazed at the results achieved by doing this.
member of his staff, I discovered that there was anIt's only natural to seek acknowledgment for a job well
overriding feeling that they were not appreciated bydone. Often staff will work harder and continue a high
the company or their immediate bosses.level of work output if they know that their efforts are
Have you ever caught yourself or had this said to you,genuinely acknowledged and appreciated. Just a
"You'd better do that or else!" "You better tidy yoursimple and genuine 'thankyou' can go along way.
room or else!" "That report had better be on my deskIt's important to note that these simple acts of
in the morning or else!" These threats get us into arecognising individuals for their efforts must be done
'have to' motivation mode and we will do just enoughgenuinely and sincerely. If they are used too often they
to get the person threatening us off our back. Nocan come across as insincere and will have a negative
more and no less.effect.
In a work environment if you are told 'do it or else!' YouTo get people achieving and working towards their
will only do enough to get your boss off your back andgoals, positive motivation is needed not fear motivation.