A motivated team is the key to a company's success. This translates not only into job satisfaction but also into company performance. An engaged employee will set more and more goals and strive to meet them. On top of that, work can become their passion. But what factors actually motivate employees?
What is work motivation?
Work motivation is nothing but a driving force for employees. It is responsible for greater commitment, accuracy and results. That is why it is so important to support and develop employees' work motivation because it is a key element in the success of any company.
Why is work motivation important?
Work motivation is essential for business growth and an edge over key competitors. In the constant pursuit of more customers, better products and services, an organization's chances of achieving its goals and surpassing the competition increase, especially when a motivated team of employees is working on the main idea. It is the lack of motivation to work that can prove to be the main enemy of many companies. The responsibility for keeping engagement high rests with managers and company leaders, who need to know how to motivate their employees to action.
5 factors that increase motivation at work
To increase work motivation in a team, you can try applying some of the practices listed below. With these, employees will set their bar higher and higher, which in turn will translate into concrete results at work.
1. Determine the purpose of the work
Starting with the company's hiring process, employees need to understand the purpose of their work and what impact it has on the organization. In this way, team members will know the value of their work and how their daily activities translate into meeting or solving the needs of the brand's customers. This can be helped by:
- Review of the life cycle of a service or product.
- Consultation and training with the team.
- Analysis of the company's strategic goals.
- Synchronization of changes in corporate goals with those of employees.
2. Motivation is not one size fits all
Beginning with upgrading the company's facilities with electronic equipment, such as video game consoles and coffee makers, to implementing performance-based bonuses, managers are investing time and money in possible ways to keep employees motivated.
Few, however, take into account the fact that every member of a company is unique, also with regard to work motivation factors. A financial incentive may appeal to one employee, while another will be more interested in the idea of having more free time or a more prestigious position.
Before applying a specific tactic to motivate a person, it is necessary to analyze the aspirations, needs, age, interests and even the location or personality of the teams. This will enable you to find an incentive or reward that will benefit the greatest number of employees, and ultimately the company. A good way to increase motivation at work, when there are differences among employees, is to offer a variety of benefits with the opportunity to individually choose the most fitting option.
3. Be open with your team
Disinformation and rumors are potential threats to increasing employee motivation within a company. Lack of proper communication and feedback will cause doubt or discouragement among teams, working in total ignorance about such issues as the condition of the company, internal organizational goals and movements, or the future of the industry in which they work.
The information gap is then filled in by rumors and gossip, which can be harmful and create a negative work atmosphere. For this reason, it is worth leaning into newsletters, brochures or other forms of informing employees about what is happening inside and outside the company. Positive information such as promotions to new positions, increasing prestige of the company, appreciation and noticing the results of teams' performance can increase motivation to work.
To avoid misinformation, an organization must have clear means of communication with which it informs its employees about important aspects of the company's operations:
- Its market presence and opinion among customers.
- Important human resources events, such as employee arrivals and departures or promotions to new positions.
- The impact of external factors (government, local communities, competitors, etc.) on the company.
4. Trust is key
When an employee feels trusted by his leader or manager, he can go beyond the realm of his daily duties and offer ideas or solutions to situations that are beyond their scope.
With such trust, an employee develops with greater agility and proactivity. In addition, employees who are given the responsibility for their own project, even a small one, show more motivation to work and strive to meet expectations and, above all, not to disappoint someone who placed trust in them.
Before this happens, however, it is worthwhile for department supervisors to clarify the extent to which an employee can make decisions on their own, and when they should report to their supervisor.
5. Prepare a growth plan for each position
Knowing how much you can grow in the company and what benefits you can gain in the long run is one of the most effective ways to motivate yourself at work.
A growth plan is an important milestone for companies to show that they care about building a career path with employees and setting a course of action to achieve individual goals. Setting a goal to achieve and offering a reward for achieving it can positively boost work motivation.
Visualizing the rewards and titles associated with a better position helps team members find a specific goal to pursue in their professional lives and look for ways to achieve it. Everyday tasks will take on greater importance because you will now see them as part of a strategic development plan.
Other important factors motivating employees include:
- A pleasant atmosphere at work.
- A sense of stability and security (e.g. indefinite employment contract).
- Positive feedback.
- Financial aspects.
- Clear division of responsibilities.
- Additional training.
- Benefits (e.g. food coupons).
- A sense of independence.
- Flexible working hours or remote work.
Companies that devote a portion of their resources to work motivation invest in organizational development and achieving good results. In the long run, this benefits the brand itself and keeps it a leader in the industry.
One way to achieve this goal is to take advantage of Berlitz's support. We are a language school offering high-quality courses in a variety of settings, designed to meet the needs of companies and their teams. Offer your employees a benefit that will allow them to communicate more fluently in a foreign language and, above all, gain confidence in speaking, increasing their satisfaction and, ultimately, their motivation at work.
Maintaining motivation among a company's employees is extremely important, as they are the ones who create it, and their influence on the organization's operations is crucial in ensuring its smooth functioning.
Summary
Work motivation is one of the most important factors in the functioning of a company. An engaged team is less prone to burnout and strives to improve performance. However, it is important to remember that not all motivators will work for every employee, so it is worth having a range of benefits to offer based on the individual needs of each employee.
