Almost everyone would agree that money is a great motivator. But did you know that your employees are actually not motivated by money at all? It turns out the research shows us that we should motivate our teams without spending money to get better engagement, retention, and productivity. Here are five ways to leverage this data—and save some cash in the process.
Why Doesn’t Money Matter for Motivation?
Psychology Today says that throwing money at an employee during an annual review doesn’t really matter because most raises aren’t substantial enough to motivate your workers. They also suggest that your workers are motivated more when an employer takes a different approach. Learning what each employee values and then rewarding them accordingly is an approach that may build more employee loyalty in the long run.
Here are five examples that could make a bigger impact on employee motivation instead of throwing them cash:
1. Offer a flexible work arrangement.
This could include remote options or flex time. A more flexible schedule means the employee has the room to create work/life balance. It also will make them less stressed when everyday personal obligations arise, such as a sick child or other life responsibilities. Allowing the worker a remote option will build their loyalty and remain productive instead of taking a sick day.
2. Invest in training your workforce.
Learning new skills will help the employee stay engaged in their daily tasks, even if they are repetitious or mundane. Promote from within to keep your workers motivated. Take the time to ask your employees where they see themselves in a few years in the company and then help them get there to build their appreciation and trust.
3. Praise them.
Do it publicly, privately, and consistently. A shout-out during a meeting, a private email, or even an employee of the month award will make your employee enjoy the job more and feel proud of their work. It helps to quantify goals and various metrics to achieve, certainly, but even praise for leading a meeting or exhibiting an “above and beyond” attitude will go a long way with almost any employee.
4. Do not micromanage; allow your workers the autonomy to control their work.
Let your workers make frontline decisions, and when they nail it, tell them so. You can carefully track these wins and how the employee progresses in their learning and use these benchmarks as new opportunities to praise the worker.
5. Create a culture of support and positivity in the workplace.
You will find this is contagious; Positivity breeds more positivity. This can help you build a sense of community where workers support each other, the team, and the business effort. You’ve heard about the carrot and stick approach? Your business will benefit when you focus on using a system of rewards over punishment and set this model for your managers to follow.
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ADD STAFF is here to help you build a positive work environment. We have connections to some of the best talent in the region. Talk to us to find out how we can help.