5 Ways to Effectively Motivate Your Team as a Manager

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article | 5 Ways to Effectively Motivate Your Team as a ManagerHiring capable candidates that are a good fit for your organization is just the first step of building a happy and motivated workforce. If you fail to take steps to ensure that your employees are content in your organization, you risk having demoralized and inefficient staff. In addition, when team members are unhappy with management, they are far more likely to leave a company. In this case, you will lose stellar employees and increase expenditure.

Many businesses attempt to motivate their employees through money and other benefits. While these are undoubtedly effective, studies suggest that these are not always the most critical factors. Peer motivation and recognition are often more important aspects of a workplace when it comes to motivating staff. With this in mind, here are some management tactics you can implement to keep your team loyal and motivated.

Make the Workplace Somewhere People Enjoy Being

Unsurprisingly, not many people relish the thought of being stuck in dingy and dull office spaces while they work. Consequently, as a manager, you should take steps to make your workspace a visually enticing and aesthetically pleasing area.

One of the easiest ways to make an office a more pleasant place is to focus on the lighting. You should take the time to ensure that the spaces are well-lit. A poorly illuminated environment can quickly become mentally taxing for employees, reducing productivity and contributing to dissatisfaction in the workplace.

You don’t need to spend a fortune when revitalizing your office. Consider finding interesting art and furniture on local sales pages or in thrift stores. Regardless of what you decide to purchase, bringing a degree of character into workspaces will help to ensure that your employees are stimulated and happy when they are at work.

Support Your Team

This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how often managers forget this fundamental aspect of their jobs. Bad management is one of the primary factors contributing to staff turnover, so if your staff do not feel respected, listened to or supported, expect them to not stick around for long.

There are some fundamental aspects of managing a team that you should not overlook. For example, promoting honesty, support and communication in your organization is essential. However, if you are newer to management, you might be wondering where to begin when it comes to motivating your team. Consider reading up on the subject. Like any other skill, effective management takes time and knowledge to master, so reading material related to management could help you hone your management style.

Embrace Agile Principles

The agile manifesto helps to improve focus and motivation within your organization by focusing on continual improvement based on feedback. Additionally, it stresses the importance of technology as a tool to enable cross-team collaboration to create a workplace where teamwork and interaction between individuals are priorities.

Therefore, it is relatively clear how agile business management principles can help make your workplace where employees want to be. These principles are particularly suited to software development companies, but they can be applied across various industries. In fact, the majority of Fortune 500 companies utilize agile principles in their day-to-day operations. Therefore, if you want to create a happy and motivating environment, it is an excellent idea to promote engagement and collaboration using these. For more information about these agile principles and how they can help your company, check out Easy Agile.

Recognize Achievements

Often, all your staff expect from their employer is to be recognized and celebrated when they do their job well. As a result, you should not hesitate to offer honest praise to your team members when you notice them going above and beyond. For example, when employees put a lot of time and effort into completing a project, or you see them helping their co-workers, let them know that you appreciate it.

While this might seem like a minor thing, it can make a world of difference to your staff. The principle of recognizing efforts makes people feel more appreciated in the workplace and will compel them to continue to deliver maximum effort while performing their jobs. This is well documented, as employees whose hard work is regularly praised report that they enjoy their jobs more than those who are not.

Ultimately, this is one of the most effective ways of motivating staff. It helps individuals feel more connected with and loyal to a company, which will boost their performance while at work. Keeping your team happy and invested in the company is essential to avoid losing valuable team members. Losing employees can damage morale, reduce efficiency and lead to significant expenditure, so you should avoid it at all costs. Thankfully, simply recognizing their efforts is one of the most effective ways of developing a happy workforce.

Be Flexible in Your Scheduling

The ways of working have changed a lot over recent years thanks to technology. This was never as clear as during the Covid-19 pandemic, when many office workers were forced to work from home to prevent viral transmission. Restrictions on working from shared spaces provided many valuable lessons for both employers and employees. One of the most significant takeaways was that working doesn’t need to fit into a regimented nine to five schedule.

With modern communication and remote working solutions, it is possible to pick up and finish work when convenient. For many, this has been a massive boon for their work/life balance, as it allows them to fit their working hours into their busy schedules. Therefore, flexible working arrangements can be an excellent way to motivate employees and entice them to stay at your organization. So, whether you offer opportunities to work from home or schedule the working week on a flexi-time basis, a flexible approach is often the best one.

The Takeaway

Motivated and happy employees are a cornerstone of any successful business. Therefore, your management style should incorporate tactics to ensure that your team members enjoy coming to work and feel like they are a valued part of the business. This can be facilitated by following the tips outlined above. Additionally, take care to regularly hone your management skills to ensure that you are constantly improving your methods of motivating your team.

Creating An Office Space For Happy, Productive Employees

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Office Environment|Creating An Office Space For Happy, Productive EmployeesHaving happy, productive employees is one of the greatest assets your business can have. When your employees feel valued and comfortable in what they do, they can help some amazing results for your company.

Creating a happy and productive workforce involves many actions, with one of them being a workspace that’s fit for purpose. Look at ways you can transform your workplace and help create a positive working environment for your employees.

Be open

Many modern workplaces are embracing open plan office space. There are several advantages of open plan offices that can make them worth having, especially in creative and tech-based companies. Having an open plan office can break down barriers and help teams work closer together, which will help to develop a more positive workplace.

Focus on creativity and collaboration

Putting an emphasis on creative thinking and collaboration can help your teams work better together in order to achieve company goals. A workspace that has breakout areas and space for thinking can be a real asset to employees and helps them take a breather from their desks to recharge. There are several collaboration options for businesses to pursue that should be explored to see if you could enhance your teams’ ways of working.

Keep it clean and green

Having a clean and neat office space can make people feel more positive, while also making it easier to work. Hiring janitorial services will help to keep your office looking great, while also making sure issues and barriers to work are taken care of. Encouraging staff to clean up after themselves is also important, and there should be clear desk policies in place to help maintain an organized workplace.

Adopting green practices is another way you can bring more happiness to your workplace. By encouraging employees to recycle, consume less energy and think twice about their waste, you can help create a greener workplace that brings something positive to your community.

Remember to think about life outside the office

As well as making improvements to the inside of your office, you also need to give some thought to the outside. Helping your employees achieve a better work/life balance will help them to be more productive during the hours they are in the office and will help them feel happier in their jobs too. From flexible working to better home working facilities, you can show employees that you care about their wellbeing and make your company a great place to work.

The right office space will help transform things for your employees, helping to make your company one that people enjoy working in, and make others aspire to work for. You’ll not only benefit from a more upbeat workplace but will experience better retention rates too. Simple changes can help make a significant difference to the attitudes and effectiveness of your staff. Why not put a plan in place as to how you can transform your workplace and help develop happy, productive employees who achieve great things for your business?

How Can You Show Your Employees You Care?

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Care for Employees|How Can You Show Your Employees You Care?You need to take care of your best employees. Because it is difficult to find talented individuals to take over open positions, you need to make sure you keep the best employees you have. Even though you should offer them a competitive salary, this is only going to get you so far. If you really want to convince your best employees to stick around, you need to show them that you care about them as people. How can you do exactly that? There are several ways that you can show your employees just how important they are to your business.

Offer Trips on the Company Dime

The first thing you may want to think about is offering trips on the company dime. Even though your employees may end up on business trips from time to time, you should also send them on vacation. For example, you may want to run a competition where your best employees are going to compete for a free trip somewhere awesome. Or, you may want to offer multiple trips, allowing the winner to pick his or her preferred destination first before moving on to the other people in the company. This will incentivize your employees to work harder while also showing that you care about them.

Provide Your Employees With More Autonomy Over Their Schedules

You may also want to provide your employees with more autonomy over their schedules. For example, a lot of companies have given their employees unlimited vacation time as long as the work gets done. If your employees are working remotely, allow them more control over their own schedules. Let them pick one they work, when they relax, and when they go on vacation as long as they get the work done. If you show your employees that you are willing to provide them with more autonomy over their work schedules, they will be more likely to stick around. They know this is something that they are unlikely to get from other businesses.

Let Your Employees Pick Out Their Equipment

You should also consider allowing your employees to pick out their own equipment. Everyone has slightly different preferences. Therefore, some employees may prefer to work at a standing desk. Other employees may prefer to work at a sitting desk. There are other employees who may have back issues. Therefore, they may require a specific desk chair. As an employer, you should be willing to invest in these items for your employees. If your employees are comfortable, they will be more likely to get their work done on time. You may want to provide them with options for their other equipment as well. For example, you may want to consider offering them custom pencils, special coffee mugs, or even specific lights that could be helpful to them. This can make a significant difference in the overall morale of your employees.

Give Extra Sick Days and Holidays

Finally, you should also take care of your employees by providing them with extra sick days and holidays. Every employer is going to offer a competitive compensation package. If you really want to set yourself apart from the others in your industry, show your employees that you care about them by offering sick days, holidays, bereavement days, and other days off. If one of your employees has a death in the family, they should be allowed to go to the funeral without having to answer any questions. If your employees have to stay home to take care of a sick child, they should be allowed to do so. If you demonstrate to your employees that you view them as people instead of replaceable cogs in a machine, they will be more likely to stick around. Go the extra mile for your employees by giving them time off when they need it.

Take Care of Your Employees

It is important for you to take care of your employees if you really want them to stick around. It can cost a lot of money for your company to find new people, train them, and make them as productive as your current staff. Therefore, this is probably an issue that you would rather avoid. One of the ways you can stay away from this problem is to make sure you take care of your best employees. If you show your employees that you will take care of them, they will take care of you by rewarding you with their loyalty. Reach out to professionals if you want to learn more about how you can take care of your best employees.

What Your Approach To Managing Appraisals Says About You

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Appraisals|What Your Approach To Managing Appraisals Says About YouWhen it comes to workplace appraisals, it’s easy to assume that the attention is focused squarely on the employee you’re evaluating.

However, the tables can be turned here, as your approach to appraisals can reflect on you as a manager. Two years ago, workplace appraisals were even branded pointless for most employees, so your colleagues will undoubtedly question your aptitude if they arrive at a similar conclusion about your assessments.

So, what is the correct way to manage things here? What does your approach to appraisals say about you? Well, any of the following qualities could be judged while the appraisal you’re overseeing is underway.

How Invested You Are

Appraisals can either be a run-of-the-mill bore or an exciting opportunity for career development. Your approach will determine either atmosphere.

Remember, appraisals are not mandatory by law, but they are excellent opportunities to review progress and invest in your worker’s careers. For instance, it is a perfect opportunity to evaluate pay increases and bonuses and let employees know that their efforts are not going unnoticed.

Instead of bombarding your employees with a list of demands, try to focus on ways you can help them too. Consequently, you should be able to build worker satisfaction and potentially even reduce staff turnover. In the end, as appraisals are optional, it is vital to make them count.

How Competent You Are

You may be ready to unleash some tough love on slacking employees. However, if you have organised the appraisal to a subpar standard, the only person leaving the meeting room with an egg on their face is you.

To prevent any shortcomings, make use of 360 appraisal software, as it will help you to stay organised. StaffCircle provides comprehensive feedback templates, which HR managers can easily use to create structured appraisal questions and score specific aspects of a worker’s performance. 360 appraisal software also uses automation, creating templates at a time of your choosing that also remind you of upcoming meetings, thereby saving time.

Not only must you be organised, but you should use the appraisal smartly also. Ask calculating questions, offer constructive feedback, and resolve crucial matters your employee is experiencing. The appraisal is not an opportunity for idle chatter and passing the time, so spend every second wisely. Your employees will know you take both the business and their performance seriously after that.

How Confrontational You Are

Managers always face the insurmountable task of being firm but fair. That balance is crucial in maintaining worker wellbeing.

If you are too relaxed with your employees, there is a real risk that some of them will cease to respect you. They may not turn in their best performances and interpret your calm for sheer apathy.

However, if you’re too harsh, then your workers may be looking for a different job at the earliest opportunity. A work culture of fear and dread can be born of this.

Therefore, your approach to the appraisal should be balanced. A focus on specificity should help. Instead of relying on vague conjecture, draw on evidence and data to inform your judgments. Try to be objective rather than subjective where possible and leave personal feelings out of the equation. Employees can’t object to the facts.

Top Ways to Give Your Business an Epic Boost

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Boost your Business|Top Ways to Give Your Business an Epic BoostAre you looking for ways to give your business an epic boost, but you aren’t sure what the best way is? You’ve got a few ideas in mind and want to know which one will work best.

If that sounds like you, then this blog post might be just what you need! In this blog post, you will learn some of the top ways to give your business an epic boost and show how they can help make it even more successful than before.

Improve its Physical Appearance

Encourage a culture of cleanliness and organization by providing trash cans, recycling bins, paper towel dispensers. Make sure to have plenty of seating available so employees can take breaks when they need them.

You should also consider doing repairs that may be unappealing to your customer’s eyes. For instance, if your walls and roof have severe damages, what are you waiting for? Get them fixed as soon as possible! You may want to consider commercial roofing contractors who can get the job done.

Improve Communication

Create an open culture where employees can give feedback without fear of retaliation or judgment. It’s essential to create an environment where people feel safe when they speak up.

Make sure that there are plenty of outlets for people to express themselves creatively. This could be through artwork, games, or any other kind of creative outlet they may like and need.

Buy the Latest Equipment

Try to make sure you are always in touch with the latest and best apps that can help your business succeed even more! Be sure you are always on top of industry standards by having access to online resources that can help you stay informed.

Train Your Staff

Your staff is your most valuable resource, so it’s essential to train them well. Provide the opportunity for continuing education and cross-training by working with outside vendors who can provide courses on everything from management skills to customer service tactics.

Make sure you have a sound system in place where people get regularly evaluated as they progress through their careers.

Set Goals

Setting goals not only helps your business to have a clear vision, but it also motivates employees.
Encourage your employees to set their own goals and then help them achieve those. This will give people a sense of accomplishment and foster the idea that they are an essential part of helping your company succeed.

Improve its Digital Presence

It might seem daunting at first, primarily if you aren’t used to working in this area. However, one of the best things you can do is to start with something simple: update your social media profiles to be up-to-date and engaging.

Get everyone on board by creating a company blog where people will be free to post content about what’s happening at work, their thoughts, or anything else relevant.

In conclusion, now that you know what to do, go out there and get started! It might be hard at first, but the more you push yourself, the better your business will become.