So, you've realised your dream and set up your own business. You have a shiny new office and hired a bunch of talented, enthusiastic and excited employees. Everything seems to be going just right. Until one day you notice some of your staff seem unmotivated and unwilling to work, what do you do? Well, HRS are here to help with our top ways on how to motivate your employees! Ensuring your staff remain happy and want to work for you.

Make them want to be at work

The first thing we recommend you consider when thinking about how to motivate your employees is to make your workplace a pleasant place to be. The majority of your employees are going to spend most of their day working there, so the least you can do is to ensure they enjoy being there.

Now, there are a few ways in which you can do just this! The first and easiest way is to make your business aesthetically pleasing. A place that when your workers first walk-in in the morning, brightens up their day and gets them in the mood to be productive. Make sure it is well-lit, functional and fun. You can do this by choosing appropriate lighting, using up-to-date equipment and keeping the place clean and tidy.

Offer rewards and incentives

At times, you will need to offer your employees more than just a pat on the back. By offering rewards and incentives, you give your staff a greater motivation to complete work and push their own professional development. It doesn't necessarily have to be monetary rewards that you can use, something as simple as offering a personal car park spot for a month, free lunch, gift vouchers or a free trip abroad. The possibilities are endless, you just need to make sure that the rewards are good enough that they make your staff work harder.

Offer long-term career prospects

Nobody wants to work in a dead-end job. By providing your employees with a clear career path, you provide them with a target to work towards, albeit it is an achievable target that can be gained through experience and accomplishments. By providing your workers with opportunities to progress and develop new skills as well as earning more money, not only will they benefit, but you will too. The sense of greater responsibility and trust that you place in them shifts their thinking from "this is just a job" to "this is my career".

Offer flexible working

Advances in technology have changed the way that businesses operate. It has also changed the in which we work or the way we can work. If your employees are able to check work emails on different devices such as their phone or finish projects on their laptops, there will be an expectation to allow them to work from home. In a study from Forbes, 46% of respondents said that flexibility is the most important factor when it comes to job hunting. So, whether it's working from home or offering flexible working hours, it's important to keep flexible working in mind if you're wanting to attract top talent as well as holding onto the talent you already possess.

Be clear and honest

Another great way to motivate your employees is to always be honest and transparent with them. Let them know and understand how the business works and how the business is performing. Keeping them in the dark about such things may lead them to think they are being alienated or aren't important enough to know what's going on behind the scenes. You can do this in several ways, such as including them in business meetings and briefing, sending them monthly reports or just a regular email every now and then keeping them in the loop. Not only will they feel like an important part of the team, but they can also point out areas if the business that can be improved.

Provide refreshments

Something that seems so simple but is so effective. Nobody wants to work when they're hungry, so, by offering your staff food and drinks such as tea, coffee and biscuits will definitely go a long way in keeping them happy and motivated whilst at work. A survey by Seamless found that 57% of staff said that food-based perks would make them feel more valued and appreciated and that 38% said food perks would make them more likely to recommend their employer in a 'best places to work' survey. So, not only will a great selection of snacks and refreshments help keep your staff, but will help to attract more.

Find out what they want

Too often, in too many workplaces do bosses and managers come across as if they don't really care about what their employees want. They only seem to care about what they want and what's the best way to make their employees help to achieve it. This is a surefire way to make your staff up and leave. To avoid this, simply sitting down and listening to your employee's needs and finding out what thing they value will help to foster a positive work environment. Doing the unexpected can sometimes be the best thing you can do for your employees and your company.

Create meaningful and worthwhile goals

The best levels of work are always produced when aiming towards something. If you find your employees are coming into work just to sit around and get through the same stuff on a daily basis without ever having a real objective to achieve, you will soon find them becoming bored and hopping onto job sites. Ensuring your company and employees have clear and achievable goals will foster a great working environment.

For more information and advice on work-life and how to motivate your employees, be sure to keep an eye on the HRS blog and social media channels.

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