Inspiring Your Team:

5 Strategies to Boost Motivation and Productivity

Motivation Introduction

Few people find their dream job directly, and even if they do, it often comes with problems they didn't expect and low motivation.  By focusing on goal-oriented tasks and giving benefits like praise, fun, awards, pay, or the chance to learn more and move up, strategic motivation can help make any job more attractive. Even if employees haven't found their dream job yet, active motivation from the employer can significantly impact their performance and overall motivation. 

 

Reasons for lack of motivation

As the Harvard Business Review writes, it is worth finding out what the reasons are behind a motivational low. And these can be very different: Often employees can not identify with the task or even the company, do not feel sufficiently qualified or even overqualified. Identifying the reasons is especially important with an already existing motivational low. It can play a role in strategic coping: The approaches can be diverse, from the communication of values, creating of interest, the building of identity and company, over courses and training to embedding into a bigger goal or financial incentives. But often it is not money that makes a significant difference, because motivation and self-actualization are directly connected. A look at Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs” reveals how motivation and (job) satisfaction are linked and how the current job can become a dream job with the right strategies. (Harvard Business Review March 13, 2019)

5 Strategies to Boost Motivation and Productivity

 01.     Creating a Positive Work Environment

Maslow's hierarchy of basic requirements for contentedness provides a framework for workplaces, including basic needs like water, food, rest, financial security, a positive social network, and self-actualization. According to a study, 35% of employees desire more recognition at work. Although not designed specifically for the workplace, these levels can help design a positive work environment and incentivize employees. Strategic motivation involves considering employee engagement, motivation, and fulfillment of needs.
 

           02.     Setting Clear Goals and Expectations

Edwin Locke's "Goal setting theory of motivation" highlights the connection between work performance, clear goals, and sustainable motivation. Goals not only define areas of responsibility but also grow a sense of responsibility, requiring a personal sense of meaning. Companies should consider dividing goals into measurable interim steps and setting expectations. Goals, motivation, and rewards work in mutual response. To achieve goals, it is essential to divide them into sub-goals and tasks within the company or teams. These tasks should be clear, achievable, and stickable within a specific time frame. Small successes can lead to new motivation for upcoming interim steps.

Why are clear goals so important for motivation?

Motivation in a company always means the pursuit of a goal that’s bigger than a single person or even the team. That is why it is essential for companies to clearly define the tasks and areas of responsibility and to communicate these effectively. The formulation of goals has to be simple, understandable and clear for all parties to avoid misunderstandings and to increase performance and quality. This is where milestones come into play: They often mean that yearlong work is coming to an end and celebrating and rewarding reaching them will motivate for upcoming projects. Employees are being conveyed a feeling of appreciation.

        03.     Extrinsic and intrinsic: Those are the motivation methods

Strategic motivational actions can help incentivize employees and prevent motivational lows and economic consequences. Common methods include monetary incentives like bonuses, learning opportunities, flexible work arrangements, and paid holidays. However, recognition and praise, without money, are more effective. Formulating goals is crucial for employees and executives, as it helps them understand when to accomplish tasks, provide feedback, and praise their employees. Combining extrinsic motivation with intrinsic motivation factors like recognition, improvement, and learning progress is more sustainable, targeting Maslow's self-actualization and expressing personal appreciation.

       04.     Gamification of everyday working life

Gamification is a strategy that involves having fun with seemingly mundane tasks, enhancing people's contentment and motivation. It has been attributed to culture and humanity, with humans being called "Homo Ludens" - the playing human. This strategy is particularly effective for onboarding, as it helps new employees start their jobs motivated. Gamification can be implemented through point systems within teams, award ceremonies for milestones, and the nomination of an employee of the month. It can also make boring tasks more attractive by creating a sense of purpose, introducing competitions, or using short exercise units for mental refreshment

 

05.     Professional development

Humans never finish learning, and knowledge transfer positively impacts motivation. However, training and promotion prospects are often overlooked in employee motivation. Professional development benefits both employees and the company by supporting self-actualization and making employees feel valued. Companies can ensure trained staff stay updated with new developments and trends, leading to pioneering innovations. In the best case, employees' personal goals can be combined with the company's.

 

Conclusion More fun, more motivation

Team mood can fluctuate, with work to rule and quiet quitting being key motivators.
• Employer branding and engagement-focused strategies can foster a healthy work environment.
• Internal structures should be designed for long-term, sustainable motivation.
• Motivation should be sustainable and not implemented when employee mood has already lowered.
• Games can improve motivation, engagement, corporate loyalty, and efficiency.
• Fun games positively affect creativity and problem-solving.
• Humanoo emphasizes that fun is the best motivation.

Reference.

·       ·       Humanoo, (2023) 5 effective strategies to motivate your team, Journal of linkedin.com (Online).         Available at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-effective-strategies-motivate-your-team-humanoo-           gmbh/  . Accessed on 30^th March 2024.

 

·      ·       Richard E.Clark and Bror Saxberg, (2019) 4 Reasons Good Employees Lose Their Motivation.         Journal of Harward Business Review (Online). Available at https://hbr.org/2019/03/4-reasons-        good-employees-lose-their-motivation . Accessed on 30^th March 2024.

·       ·       LMA , (2024) Motivate and Dominate – 5 Motivation Strategies to Increase Productivity. Journal of      Leadership & performance development (Online) . Available at                             https://leadershipmanagement.com.au/motivate-and-dominate-5-motivation-strategies-to-increase-       productivity/ . Accessed on 30^th March 2024.