Motivate Your Staff, Your Team And Yourself

Study after survey shows that while remuneration and pay raises are important they are not the only way to motivate and lead a team.
Silly ideas like mandatory pub nights or weekend getaways (which only serve to remove the team from their respective families more than many would like) aside, here are several tips for leading a motivated, happy and energetic team:

1- Education and skills upgrading
Most people do not like the feeling of stagnation. If your company does not have a provision for compensating employees who upgrade their skills and education then either look into it or find a special budget for it. Time and time again time and monetary allowance for courses and updated education list as top employee priorities.

2- Extra time off
Surprise your team with an extra day off once in a while. While the idea of giving employees a whole day off might seem expensive the manager will find the time off more than an adequate investment in terms of employee loyalty. Moreover, a motivated and happy employee will return the favour by putting in many extra productive hours.

3- Take on extra personal projects
Entertain your employees’ suggestions and allow them to set time aside to work on those ideas and projects that they have brought to the table. Not only can such projects add meaningfulness to the employees’ work, but they can also positively affect the company’s bottom-line. Companies like Google and 3M have in fact mandated such activities.

4- Realize that a healthy body comes with a healthy mind
Encourgage everyone to exercise, have fun and be active. There are subtle ways for a company to do this such as gym allowances and bicycle subsidies. A tired or ill employee is not going to function well, while a healthy individual will surely translate into gained productivity.

5- Give your team opportunities to lead
Allow the team to shine and showcase their leadership skills and instincts with every opportunity. The independence and sense of trust will lift the employees’ spirits. Do not micro-manage unless an employee is new and inexperienced.