Photo by: Delmaine Donson via Canva
Have you heard of “The Great Resignation?” It’s an ongoing trend that began during the pandemic and started with roughly forty-eight million people quitting their jobs in 2021. It was caused by limited opportunities for job advancement, inflexible remote work policies, and job dissatisfaction, just to name a few. Although those numbers have declined recently, there is a new trend of “quiet quitting.” Even if employees aren’t quitting outright, they are disengaging from their jobs and doing only the minimum required.
What can we do, as managers, to decrease turnover and retain our employees? Keeping employees motivated in the workplace is a critical piece of the employee retention puzzle. We’ve all been there. Lack of motivation impacts every employee at some point. It’s our job to help employees reach peak motivation levels in the workplace.
So, what drives employees to perform well? Some managers turn to material benefits. While these efforts are appreciated, research suggests this isn’t enough to address long-term well-being on its own. Managers must also strive to create a positive physical and social climate to address some of their employees’ other motivating factors.
We categorize the various motivation techniques available into three areas: procedural, environmental, and social. Here are some examples for each category:
Procedural Techniques
- Share high level goals.
- Assign tangible tasks.
- Ensure timely and open communication.
- Include employees in goal setting.
Environmental Techniques
- Create a pleasant work environment.
- Keep a transparent operating environment.
- Maintain respectful relationships.
- Work on maintaining mutual trust.
Social Techniques
- Celebrate success.
- Give recognition publicly.
- Build a positive work culture.
- Get to know your team members well.
The techniques you use will depend on your organization and the level of motivation your staff currently displays. What are you doing to motivate your team? Please let us know in the comments below.
Additional resource: 3 Tips to Boost Motivation and Connection in the Workplace [Video]
If you’re looking for more best practices to effectively manage and lead your team to success, look no further. The Evidence-Based Management and Leadership workshop will give you the critical skills and strategies to inspire performance and dedication from your staff.