Motivation in the Workplace (Part 1)

What strategies are in place to motivate employees to gain the most productivity? Why does this matter to you as an entry-level employee or a Senior Vice President? A company is only as good as it's products/services that the employee delivers to it's customer or client. Each and every employee is an expense and companies who have motivating strategies in place are more successful in delivering a profit. This means that you will have room to move up in the company or if you want to stay for a long time in your current position then you'll be able to keep your job!

If a manager understands what motivates her employees they can increase over productivity.

First, the company must view employees as humans. Most humans want to see others succeed but not at their own expense. Managers must value all employees and reward their contributions. This can be as simple as recognizing them on a monthly basis and naming an employee of the month. Letting them come in an hour after their scheduled time can be a reward.

Employees will improve their performance on the job. This will happen on a daily basis. However, it is difficult to observe on a daily basis. Changes are best observed over a period of time. Many employers perform evaluations after a few weeks or months. This is known as a quarterly review. When a manager calls an employee into her office for an evaluation review it is not always bad news. The manager only wants to acknowledge the employee's growth or offer suggestions for ways to increase productivity. They will go over the job description and make note of how well the employee has performed.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. The manager's job is to determine the areas in which the employee excels and incorporate them into their daily tasks. This helps the employee do their job well and benefits the company too.

Change is a natural occurrence. This could be a change in management because the current manager is moving up in the company or out of the company. It could be that the company is closing it's doors. Is there an open door policy at your place of employment? This is a question you should ask at your job interview. When change becomes necessary there are certain ways a manager can make it easier for employees. Offering reassurance, offering encouragement and letting employees know you are a supportive manager is often comforting. If all employees are able to suggest ideas of change it would improve overall productivity.

Do your employees feel fear or intimidation at work? This is a major demotivator of employees. Do you sense intimidation exists within the company? Some potential employers allow you to talk to employees prior to accepting a job offer. Take advantage of this! You will get a feel of the overall atmosphere. Ask them questions like, if you could have one thing changed here what would that be? You'd be surprised at the response.

Here are some questions to consider prior to accepting a job offer. How effective is the company at making changes? Is there bureaucracy or red tape that prolongs the ability for the company to make changes effectively and quickly? Then consider your personality. Are you a patient person, then red tape may not affect you. But if you do not have a lot of patience, a bureaucratic environment may not be an ideal environment for you.

Do not expect your experience with a company to be any different than the current employees. If the current employees suffer from the pressures of meeting deadlines chances are so will you.

Does the company have unionized and non-union workers? In a union environment, be prepared to face transition from a non-union environment. Both have pros and cons, but the right person will do well in a union, while personalities will be uncomfortable if working for or with a union.

How clearly defined are the goals and objectives of a company? At your employment interview you can ask this question-What are the company's goals? To be successful, a company must have a clear direction and defined objectives that all personnel can understand. An organization must not have conflicting goals or messages within the organization to be successful.

You may also ask a potential employer what type of training you will receive as a new employee, and as you continue your employment you can ask for training vital to your success. You will need to find out about the training programs offered. You should know this prior to accepting employment. It is also good if a company offers cross-functioning training. This will allow you to acquire skills and keep the department functioning for unexpected absenses.

Dona Davis
http://www.tipsfromyourjobcoach.com