Motivating Your Workforce

Motivating your workforce

In any organization the most valuable asset is its workforce. Allocating time and resources it invest in employees is a good business practice. This investment can have a direct impact on employee moral which boosts productivity. Conversely lower moral can send productivity and the bottom-line plunging with it. Money is usually the premise for people working but for the most part not why they stay with a particular organization. Some of the driving forces behind retention are surprisingly work environment, rewards (accolades), empowerment, the job, training and feeling challenged. These factors are crucial to motivating employees.

Review

The article 20 ways to motivate you employees without raising their pay by Dave Worman is an excellent article for motivating your work force. There is a misconception that just giving monetary compensation is enough to motivate employees and get more productivity. “Too many bonus or commission checks get cashed, spent and forgotten just that quickly” (Worman). Worman explains that there is a plethora of ways to motivate a staff without using money. The 20 tactics used in this article are: recognition, applause, one on one coaching, training, career path, job titles, Good work environment, on the spot praise, leadership roles, team spirit, executive recognition, social gatherings, casual gatherings, casual dress days, time off, outside seminars, additional responsibilities, theme contest, stress management, pizza/cookie day and gags and gimmicks.

When an employee achieves or accomplishes something giving recognition shows you appreciation. Applause is a variation of recognition but giving plaques or trophies is another way of applauding someone without clapping. One on one coaching is a way to show an employee that you care, and an opportunity to give positive feedback. Training is very important for all employees and should never end. Employees need to know that there are ways to get...