How to Motivate Your Employees: Know What Drives People

As a manager, do you pay attention to your employees doing their jobs? Do you know what turns them on or what puts them off? Knowing what drives them will let you know how to motivate them to perform better at work. Here are some tips for knowing what drives your people:
   

1. Establish employee focus groups

Setting up focus groups at work gives you insights on what employees would like to get from work. Hold regular sessions so that they can brainstorm on ways to make work more fulfilling. Implement ideas that resonate with the majority of staff. When you receive ideas that are not appropriate or suitable, explain why and put these ideas on hold for re-consideration at a later date. This approach allows managers to tune in to the needs of employees and demonstrates to employees that their opinions matter.

2. Help your employees find purpose in their work

Everyone is unique in their talents and differences. Take time out of your busy work schedule to engage in conversations with each of your employees to find out where their strengths lie or which areas of work they would like to contribute in. When employees find meaning in the work they do, they are more likely to remain in your company for a longer period of time.

 3. Figure out what works

Test your system of motivation. It’s not good enough to simply check off a list and assume that your employees are motivated already. Observe if financial rewards such as bonuses and cash incentives are favoured over flexible hours and time off from work with your employees. Continuously tweak the system and pay attention to which type of rewards motivates your staff to excel at work.