How to Boost Employee Motivation & Morale

Increase productivity and reduce errors by improving employee morale and motivation.

Employers have other methods of boosting motivation and employee morale than simply offering monetary rewards. While it is nice to receive raises and bonuses, it is not sufficient to boost motivation and morale throughout the organization. Not only does focusing on employee motivation and morale create a more positive work environment, but it also increases productivity and reduces errors.

Instructions

1. Acknowledge accomplishments. By simply recognizing the accomplishments of an employee publicly, you will provide encouragement and boost that individual's morale. In addition, the other employees will be more likely to try harder to also be recognized publicly to their peers.

2. Meet with employees individually. At this meeting, find out what each employee's goals and career objectives are. Based on the employee's current performance, create a plan for the employee to follow so that he can be on track to achieve those goals.

3. Challenge employees. Especially for employees with repetitive work, provide them with more difficult tasks or with additional responsibilities. By doing this, you are showing to them that you believe they are capable of such an assignment, giving them a boost in morale and motivation to do a good job.

4. Provide clear instructions. When employees are given tasks or responsibilities with unclear instructions or do not understand how to accomplish the task, they lose motivation and morale sinks. Make sure employees understand what to do, what is expected from them and that you are available to answer any questions.

5. Train employees. Sometimes when an organization shuffles employees or workloads, it does not provide proper training for their new responsibilities. Make sure employees have the proper training to handle their work, have updated knowledge of processes and have the resources to do their jobs efficiently.

References

• "Harvard Business Review": Employee Motivation: A Powerful New Model
• "Psychology Today": How to Motivate Employees: What Managers Need to Know