Effective ways to motivate your team in 2017

Q CAN you give me some effective ways to motivate my team for 2017? A Teams are the way that most companies get important work done. When you combine the energy, knowledge, and skills of a motivated group of people, then you and your team can accomplish anything you set your minds to. Don’t make the kind of mistakes that drain the energy from the members of your team. Instead, fire them up!

Here are some powerful ways to keep your team motivated and giving their very best on the job. Pay your people what they are worth: When you set your employees’ salaries, be sure that their pay is consistent with what other companies in your industry and geographic area are paying. Remember: 26 percent of engaged employees say that they would leave their current job for just a 5 percent increase in pay. Don’t lose great people because you’re underpaying them. Offer opportunities for self-development: The members of your team will be more valuable to your business, and to themselves, when they have opportunities to learn new skills. Provide your team with the training they need to advance in their careers and to become knowledgeable about the latest technologies and industry news. Set clear goals for 2017: In one study, 63 percent of employees reported that they wasted time at work because they weren’t aware of what work was a priority, and what wasn’t. As a leader, it’s your job to work with the members of your team to set clear goals. And once you do that, make sure everyone knows exactly what those goals are, what their relative priority is, and what the team’s role is in reaching them. Provide them with a pleasant place to work: Everyone wants to work in an office environment that is clean and stimulating, and that makes them feel good instead of bad. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make an office a more pleasant place to be. Deal with employees that demotivate others and don’t allow that to fester. Foster collaboration & feedback within the team: Encourage the members of your team to fully participate by inviting their input and suggestions on how to do things better. Ask questions, listen to their answers, and, whenever possible, implement their solutions. Don’t punish failure: We all make mistakes. It’s part of being human. The key is to learn valuable lessons from those mistakes so we don’t make them again. When members of your team make honest mistakes, don’t punish them, instead encourage them to try again. Don’t micromanage: No one likes a boss who is constantly looking over their shoulder and second-guessing every decision. In fact, 38 percent of employees in one survey reported that they would rather take on unpleasant activities than sit next to a micromanaging boss. Provide your people with clear goals and help them figure out the best way to achieve them. Avoid useless meetings: The average professional wastes 3.8 hours in unproductive meetings each week. Create an agenda for your meetings and distribute it in advance. Invite only the people who really need to attend, start the meeting on time, and then end it as quickly as you possibly can.

For more information on how to motivate your team contact Paul Redmond on 053 9170507 or email paul@rda.ie