Motivation Matters

ENVIRONMENT MATTERS

When people are engaged and enjoying what they're doing, when smiles and laughter radiate through the room — it’s infectious. Whereas, if people are glum and no one is happy you don't want to be there as a customer.

Every person, whether guest or team member wants to feel comfortable walking into your work environment. To me, the most important thing in any business is a warm and welcoming environment, because it's always awkward walking into a room, even if you know the place well. It’s always important to be welcomed and made to feel comfortable. Now of course, that doesn’t mean you can go out and purchase an entire new building to keep employees happy. A mechanic shop can’t avoid the smell of oil, for example. But perhaps, look at ways you can make it a better place to be.

Next, ask yourself, are you providing an environment that makes them feel proud of their job? It all begins with how everyone feels. Walk around and talk with your team, find out about them. Make it comfortable for them to approach you. It could simply be a small chat in the morning or a chat near the coffee machine. Make some notes and know who their partners are, if they've got children, where they like to holiday, are they into sport? If you show that you care, that will come back to you in spades. It's phenomenal. Treat your team as people not money makers for your company.

BE FLEXIBLE, NOT FIXED

Workplaces have changed a lot over the last 20 years. Working 9-5 isn’t the common thing anymore. Flexibility is now paramount.

Check if it’s possible to offer more flexibility or remote working opportunities. When you can achieve a more balanced work approach you get happier employees and higher productivity. Allow autonomy rather than micro-managing everything. Remember, these are adults, not children, so you don’t need to babysit.

For employees with families, probably the most important thing for them is flexibility. If you can work flexibility into their work arrangement that's far more important than a pay raise. And the same with bonuses; think about what motivates that person. Don't give them a gift voucher unless it's a really special gift, something they’ll love. Always try to think about what that person would love. Get something that shows, "Yes, I understand more about you and you're more than just an employee. You're a real team member and we love having you as part of our team."

ENCOURAGE PERSONAL GROWTH AND OFFER CAREER GROWTH

Growing a business and growing your employees go hand-in-hand. The best way to have an engaged team is to provide them with new growth opportunities. If there aren’t any external opportunities like conferences and training, look at some internal shifts within the company. Can they take on more responsibility in an area they enjoy? Or is there a fresh skill they are personally interested in? It might just be a little shift, for example, they may have some writing skills and enjoy writing outside of the office. Perhaps they could write or edit your newsletter?

Most people want to keep learning and improving their skills so they can advance in their careers and feel a sense of growth. Support and encourage them through new training programs, mentoring and even tuition for work related courses. If your team feel like they’re stuck in the same mundane job for the rest of their lives, they’ll quickly lose motivation.

EMPOWER YOUR TEAM TO BE DECISION MAKERS AND FUNMAKERS

Team empowerment will do more for your business than you could ever do. Empower them to make decisions for your business and provide the ‘Wow Factor’ to your clients. Remind them that they’re in the “fun business” and impressing clients is the game.

Always empower your team to provide extra-awesome customer service. I will never forget that one of our restaurants used to offer to walk people to their car. Many young women felt uncomfortable walking to a car park alone at night, so we would ensure a staff member or two would walk with them, or if it was raining, hold an umbrella over them. It’s not expensive to do, it’s just that some people don’t focus on the small things that make the biggest difference. It's those little attention to details that people don't expect, but get the most delighted by.

If you focus on empowering your team and developing their self-esteem, they will rise to any occasion. Even those who aren't in leadership roles like to have some power and decision-making ability. They want to feel honoured and trusted and given a chance to learn and develop.

SEE PROBLEMS AS OPPORTUNITIES

Any business is going to run into problems at some point in time. It’s just part of the game. But problems are great! Because when you run into them (which you will) it helps you rectify the system, improve strategies, or, find new opportunities to deal with them.

I used to always say to my team, "Don't come to me with problems, come to me with an idea or two towards solving the problem." Yes, I want to know about the problem but it’s important to encourage solutions rather than running full-pelt at the boss or a senior member with a problem. Now I don't care if they can't find a solution or if their ideas are wrong, but actively searching for solutions is a fantastic life skill and if you don’t work it, it won’t grow. If you try, it can be amazing what you might be able to come up with.

CELEBRATE GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Do you celebrate your wins? Or do you just move onto the next one? Taking time to praise, acknowledge and appreciate a job done right, speaks volumes. Everybody likes to be appreciated and there’s no better way to do it than acknowledge people in front of their peers or managers. Celebrate the ‘small wins’ and the big milestones. A team that feels a sense of achievement feels valued and recognised.

For more information about Business Coaching and how you can increase increase your profits and grow your business, get in contact today.