[Checklist] 5 Ways Small Business Owners Can Motivate Employees

For business owners and shareholders, motivated employees can bring much more than just a lively step and a cheerful attitude to work. They can, in fact, be the secret weapon that determines the success of the organisation.

Motivated employees are much more productive, have better skills, and are much more willing to learn. They rarely miss work, stay in their positions, and are more likely to push themselves for creative solutions to issues at work. In terms of numbers, organisations with employees who rate themselves highly motivated have 2.5 times more annual net income than competitors with demotivated employees. In fact, it is estimated that disengaged employees, because they are less productive, cost the industry billions of dollars every year.

Ways To Motivate Employees

Successful small businesses like Multiple Storage Solutions believe in the following steps to make employees more motivated and engaged.

1. Create A Mission-driven Business

People love to work hard for a purpose, and once they know exactly what it is they are working towards, employees feel inspired and excited to do their part. A company-wide mission, coupled with clear goals for every employee and ways to measure progress should be in place to give everyone a sense of purpose and objectives to achieve.

Moreover, choosing a mission or a purpose that matches what individual employees believe or want to achieve is even better. They identify with what the organisation wants to do and they are eager to be a part of it.

2. Foster Personal Growth

Employees do not like feeling stagnant in their jobs, doing the same repetitive tasks without any promise of development or growth. They all want to reach a certain goal in their careers and though not everyone can be CEO or even a leader, you can foster their desire for personal growth and career development. Give them newer responsibilities or a clear career plan which is tailored to their goals and needs.

3. Recognise And Reward Regularly

Small businesses cannot afford to give bonuses for every little milestone but still, there are other ways to recognise an employee’s contribution. Celebrate wins with a team lunch or pizza, hand out awards or simply acknowledge their efforts and contributions to the company’s success. This makes them feel appreciated and they realise that they are, indeed, vital to the performance of the whole organisation.

4. Listen To Employees

Whether they want to complain, give ideas or simply make comments about the processes or projects, giving employees the means to give feedback makes them more engaged in the organisation. They love knowing that they matter, especially when there are big decisions or when it affects them directly.

5. Encourage Them To Be Self-Directed

Loosening up the hierarchy or giving employees a little bit more freedom to do their jobs can certainly go a long way. Giving them independence shows them that the big boss trusts them and they might come up with unique and creative ideas or solutions for the company. Breathing down their necks will definitely have the opposite effect.

Naturally, the most common employee motivators like competitive salary and benefits do matter as well, but in many cases, it is the environment or the feeling of being an important part of the team that really make employees engaged.

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