BASMA YAKUB

9:00 to 5:00 job, tiring extra hours, presentation deadlines, stressful targets, unending line of emptied coffee mugs, strained eyes, head and back aches?? Every employee feels these stabs during their work life. Can we avoid them? Not really. So what’s the best we can expect? A little motivation so we can hustle harder!Motivation is a hidden drive that we give to ourselves or expect others to give us, so that we can accomplish our goals. When you want to achieve your goals in life, it is very essential to stay motivated 24X7. However, life is a difficult maze; hence staying motivated all the time does not seem possible, especially at a work place.

We, human beings are the most essential natural resource that every business organization needs for its survival. One major difference between human beings and the other natural or artificial resources are our “EMOTIONS”. We therefore involve emotions into everything we do; this also includes while at workplace. When we work emotionally, thriving for best results, we expect something in return. This “little wish” that we have a desire for, once accomplished, gives us a further boost to achieve more. In today’s modern day business, the upper level management and H.R (Human Resource Team) needs to understand and jot in the priority list
by motivating its employees.

There have been many management experts who have formed theories to streamline the understanding of workforce motivation but these theories have also faced their share of criticisms. What we need to understand is that every human has different set of needs. One worker might think the authority given to him by the management as an accomplishment whereas another worker would not consider this as a boon at all. Therefore, management and business owners needs to understand that there is always a scope of improvement through which they can boost an employee’s morale. Some of the ways could be:

1) The Pay: Salary is the first most important factor that any employee or even a potential employee would look at in the company they work or intend to work. Pay appropriate salary as per the designation you assign to the employee, the educational qualification he has, the work experience he has acquired and by doing a study on what the market pays for the same role. To keep an employee motivated it’s very essential for the company to place the right person for the right job.
2) Fringe/Perquisites Benefits: This is the extra benefit an employee receives above the regular payment they get. When an employee performs well, his efforts need to be recognized by the management. The company can give suitable benefit like a vehicle, discounted travel tickets and hotel stays, comp offs, life insurance, gift vouchers, picnics and parties and more. These benefits make the employees feel satisfied at their workplace.
3) Recognition: Once an employee joins an organization, they always aim for recognition. They expect recognition in return when they perform extremely well. It is important for the management to pause and stand to appreciate for the good the employee has done in front of all the other employees. This makes the employee feel respected and recognized for the extra effort they have put in further making them more efficient and productive.
4) Authority and Trust: Management needs to let go some of their authority in the hands of the efficient employees. This has is its own set of advantages. Firstly, management can overlook on some issues where an employee can also take a decision and give attention to other vital work. Secondly, the employee will feel more important as he is been given the authority to take decisions for the company. If this method is adopted by the management, it will reflect as though the company and the management trust in this employee.
5) Be open to Feedback and Suggestions: One raw fact that the management needs to understand is that whatever, plans and work ideas they suggest are finally executed by the employees. So it is mandatory for them to listen to the feedback or suggestion the employees provide. Most of the times, these feedbacks come to the rescue and this also makes the employee feel motivated and respected. A total win-win situation.
6) Say no to politics and yes to being transparent: What we need to understand here is that even the management consists of humans and as mentioned earlier, humans involve emotions in everything they do. Hence, if there is politics happening, understand that they are humans too. But if the management takes this point seriously and try to avoid politics in the business decisions they take, it will make the employees feel equal to the other and motivated to perform better.
7) Interact and keep your doors open: I feel it’s vital for the management to talk informal to its employees at times. There’s no harm in talking about your personal life for the starting 05 minutes when you pop into the office with your subordinates. Learn to laugh with your employees. Management needs to learn to create a bond with its employees rather than just walking straight responding to the half-hearted “Good Morning” wishes. Management needs to learn to give time to its employees. Let them pop into your cabin and discuss any problem they are facing at work or with the work atmosphere or anything else that’s bugging
them.
8) Do not Pressurize: Most of the employees consider work life like a hamster wheel, hence, it would really count if the management avoids pressurizing its employees. There are times when an employee has his own set of work plus sudden management requested reports that they need to complete. In this, it would really keep the employee motivated to do the work if they are not pressurized on the extra work.
9) Let them have their space: Management should not keep interrupting an employee’s personal space. Let them take a break. Let them receive calls (only a genuine employee would not take calls when the work is overflowing). Let them talk, laugh and have fun with their teammates. This is also essential for good team building achieving set targets. At the end, work done well is what counts.
10) Be a mentor: Management should learn how to inspire the employee who is not performing well at work. Guide them, explain things properly
and encourage them if they are losing hope. Reprimanding should not be the only way out. After all, not all wars ended with a terrific fight. Learn this from
our very own Gandhi!