We all have had managers who weren’t the best – remember David Brent from the office? Nobody wants to be a manager like him, that’s for sure! So, if you are new to being a manager and are wondering how to keep employees motivated without becoming a David Brent style manager, here are a few ways that good managers motivate their employees.
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As a manager, you will be setting the example. If you are engaging in office gossip, constantly running late, being disorganised or acting in an unprofessional manner, you are not going to have well motivated employees doing the best job they can do. As a manager, you set the standard, so positivity and a good work ethic from you will filter down to employees.
Boredom is a key reason that employees lack motivation. Keep employees engaged and interested, not just in their work but promote a healthy team atmosphere. Cake baking competitions, team days out and hiring someone to come in externally such as motivational speaker UK based Jamie McDonald https://www.adventureman.org/conference-speaker-uk/motivational-speaker-uk/ are all great ways to keep employees engaged and focussed.
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Good communication between manager and employees is essential. Encourage employees to speak with you about ideas they have or any concerns that they may have. Don’t dismiss them but work with them to explore opportunities and develop their own careers – this will help forge a really good team atmosphere and strong work ethic, whilst allowing employees to make the most of their work.
Small changes that keep a team motivated
Motivation often comes down to the everyday conditions people work in. A pleasant environment helps, and while you still need to respect the company’s style, letting people bring in a few of their own things makes the space feel like theirs. Some managers also invite an outside speaker with an inspiring story to give the team a fresh perspective.
Make it clear that everyone’s opinion is welcome and wanted, so quieter members of the team feel able to contribute. Show people that there is a clear path for progression, because nobody wants to feel stuck in the same role forever.
Try not to punish failure. Mistakes will happen, and holding them up to the light only makes people cautious. Acknowledge what went wrong, learn from it and move on. Finally, check in on how people are doing. Nobody is happy all the time, but a simple conversation shows that you notice and care.
When one employee drags the team down
Motivating a team is harder when one person takes up most of your time. Some staff become difficult because they are struggling, while others spread poor behaviour around the office and pull everyone’s morale down with them. Team activities and outside speakers work for many people, but not for everyone.
The first step is to find out whether something else is going on. Stress at home, such as a divorce, often shows up as behaviour at work. Being understanding and offering practical options, like flexible working or a referral to counselling, can help that person find their motivation again.
Where nothing like that is behind it, sit the person down and explain the effect their behaviour is having on colleagues. People who cause drama often do not realise they are doing it. If every avenue has been tried and nothing changes, removing perks, holding back a promotion or, in the end, dismissal are options a good manager still has to be ready to use.
