Most employees are not motivated. According to staffing agency Kelly Services’ recent annual survey, covering 120,000 respondents globally, 48 percent of employees say they’re unhappy in their current jobs, up from 47 percent the previous year. How do you motivate your employees to help you achieve your business goals?
Understanding the Two Types of Motivation
It’s essential for managers to understand the two types of motivation, to help them know which type will work for their employees. The two types of motivation are intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic motivation comes from within an individual. It comes from employees sense of satisfaction in completing a task. For example, an intrinsically motivated employee will work on a challenging task because the challenge provides a sense of pleasure to them. However, this doesn’t mean that an employee will not seek rewards; it only means that such external rewards are not enough to keep them motivated.
Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, comes from outside. This form of motivation is external to the person and his or her work. Good salary, fringe benefits and enabling policies are good examples of this type of motivation.
So, which of these motivational tools is best for your employees? Many researches in the field of psychology and management say that using a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation keeps employees interested and happy at their job.
Here’s how to motivate your employees using a combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
- Connect with them on a personal level
As a business owner, one of your jobs is to make your employees feel special; and the only way to achieve this is by connecting with them at a personal level. That means getting in touch with them personally, rather than in a group, and entertaining their personal queries, comments and suggestions. This will make them ‘feel among’ and motivate them to perform better.
- Reward them
Reward is one of the best motivational tools you can use to push your employees to work. When you reward your employee – with high pay or just a smile – you’re giving them the reason to not only work happier, better and harder; but you’re telling them to stay with you for a lot longer.
- Recognise them
No employee wants to be sidelined or viewed as an outsider. Every employee wants to be recognised. Let them know that you’re aware of the job that they’re doing. When they’ve accomplished a task, meet them one-on-one and say thank you, flanked with a big smile.
These little things are not insignificant. They’re what make your employees work for you, and not for your competitor.
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