Employees today are highly sophisticated in their desires working for an organization. As a matter a fact, high-performance individuals are inundated with so many different types of rewards and recognition that it becomes difficult to determine what is essential and what is not.
Below are five prominent factors in creating sustainable motivation in our employees.
1. Deliver As Promised
How many organizations or individuals have told you that they would do something and then didn’t do it? What have you told others you would do for them but haven’t done? Follow-through is at abysmal standards today. Excellent leaders always deliver what they promise. When they commit, it happens. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
2. Manage the Employee’s Experience
No matter what business you’re in, you must manage your employees’ experience. It’s those seemingly little touches and comments — that often have nothing to do with your specific business — that will make your employees remember working with you as sincere and enjoyable.
3. Create Ownership
Be prudent when assigning and then advertising employee ownership. Ownership is not about what you call employees; it is about how employees act. Create a sense of Ownership for your employees. Reward them with tangible incentives. Link their compensation with performance. Maybe even make them literal owners.
4. Involve Everyone in Improvement
Unique ideas and the ability to implement them drive your business. A critical key to success is your ability to involve everyone in generating ideas for improvement. Two of your best resources for such idea generation are employees and customers. How often do you ask your employees for suggestions about improving service? And how well do they respond? If you aren’t getting lots of employee suggestions, you aren’t asking well.
5. Make Teamwork Work
Work Exceptional service is created from the inside out. Employees who don’t feel well served probably won’t perform well. Promote the concept of Teamwork in your organization. Teamwork works when communication, cooperation, and a desire to work together for a common goal. Do not let an individual be ahead of the team.
Most employee complaints evolve from poorly managed expectations. Don’t waste your time trying to exceed employee expectations if you don’t have a foolproof system for the basics: delivering what you promise.
