Employee motivation is a critical component in the workplace. However, this is not the most straightforward aspect to perform, as it has several challenges. This is due to the need for an individual approach to the organization’s personnel and a thorough understanding of their desires and needs. Bringing a successful motivational strategy into a company’s work can provide benefits such as productivity, engagement, and a supportive environment. Such elements of the strategy, such as a clear definition of goals, work-life balance, rewards, engagement, leadership, and development opportunities, are effective methods for motivating employees.
First, in order to develop the most successful motivational strategy, the managers of the organization should pay attention to the goals and mission of the company. A clear definition of these elements will create greater accessibility and awareness about what outcomes the company expects from the activities of personnel. Moreover, having a common goal is a driving force for team building. Employees who are aware of and understand the goals and mission of the company are more motivated, especially if these aspects align with theirs.
The most commonly used methods of motivation in companies are rewards and recognition. Regarding incentives, there are tangible and intangible, each of which has a different effect. Nevertheless, despite initial success, tangible motivation has a relatively short-term impact. Consequently, managers need to pay more attention to non-material incentives, such as vacation pay, extra days off, or training funding. Research stated that this measure “are of importance in the formation of affective commitment, job performance, and turnover intention” (Koo et al. 371). Speaking from personal experience, the opportunity to develop my skills and gain new knowledge about work motivates me longer than a lump sum payment. The same can be attributed to recognition since nothing contributes to improving productivity like increasing or allocating workers’ labor. This gives the staff the opportunity to feel valued and appreciated.
The second aspect, which is closely related to the transparency of the company’s goals, is the provision of employee involvement. In other words, the company should not only share values and mission with its employees but also directly invite them into the decision-making process. This step provides a sense of ownership and responsibility, which contributes to increased motivation. Employees’ awareness that their opinion has value and can contribute to the development of the company ensures involvement in all processes and operations within the organization. Examples of the most superficial inclusion of personnel in the decision-making process are getting feedback about the needs and desires of employees and aspects that they would like to change.
Separately, it is worth considering such a method of motivation as providing opportunities for growth and development for employees to increase motivation. Providing staff with the opportunity to improve their skills in the professional field allows for improving the quality of productivity and satisfaction with the activities performed. Moreover, based on personal experience, individuals feel less productivity and the ability to perform more functions at work. Gaining knowledge also helps to increase motivation by increasing the intelligence of staff and career growth.
Leadership has an important role not only in establishing the functioning of the company’s employees but also, to a large extent, affects motivation. An effective leader is able to understand the needs of the staff and determine what measures should be taken to increase their satisfaction. In addition, these specialists should set the right example for employees, which helps to increase motivation and the desire to achieve more in the professional sphere. The prerogatives of the leader also include the correct assignment of a reward for good work, providing support, and transmitting the goals and values of the company.
For employees, it is especially important to maintain a balance between work and personal life. A company that is able to provide this opportunity to staff can gain an exceptionally high level of motivation. This is because if individuals spend too much time at work, they experience stress and anxiety (Yang et al. 484). These aspects directly affect the motivation to perform the tasks. Personal experience shows that when I can fully relax and spend time with my loved ones, I have a stable desire to return to work and effectively perform my official duties.
In conclusion, there are many different methods that will increase the level of motivation of employees. Among them, it is worth highlighting the transparency of the company’s goals and mission and the involvement of personnel in the decision-making process using successful leaders. In addition, it preserves the balance between work and personal life, helps to maintain motivation, and limits stress. It is also essential for the staff to receive various rewards and intangible stimulators as an opportunity to gain new knowledge and develop in the professional field. These methods will allow the company to provide the most favorable workplace environment and sustain a high level of employee motivation. It is worth noting that each of these methods should be applied taking into account the individual characteristics of the company and its staff.
Works Cited
Koo, Bonhak, et al. “Relationships among Emotional and Material Rewards, Job Satisfaction, Burnout, Affective Commitment, Job Performance, and Turnover Intention in the Hotel Industry.” Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, vol. 21, no. 4, 2020, pp. 371-401.
Yang, Xue, et al. “The Mediation Role of Work-Life Balance Stress and Chronic Fatigue in the Relationship between Workaholism and Depression among Chinese Male Workers in Hong Kong.” Journal of Behavioral Addictions, vol. 9, no. 2, 2020, pp. 483-490.