Written by: Casimiro da Silva Santos, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Nowadays, it is all about the triple P (3P) bottom line approach – People, Planet, and Profit. It's often said that a company is only as good as its people. This applies to not only hiring the right employees while ensuring that they stay engaged in their work throughout their tenure. After all, the more motivated employees are, the more likely they will stay and reach their fullest potential within the company.
"Work gives you meaning and purpose, and life is empty without it." ‒ Stephen Hawking
You believe in your company wholeheartedly. An entrepreneurial fire burning strong inside motivates you to work harder each day. Unfortunately, the same can only sometimes be said about your employees. In an SHRM Employee Job Satisfaction and Engagement survey of 600 employees from 2011 to 2015, only 69% felt they consistently put all their effort into their work.
You've hired some stellar people to improve the performance of your team and your company. Now you need to make sure they stick around. While money and benefits are necessary, a study found that they don't top the list of motivating factors. Instead, some essential elements tended to be peer motivation (20%) and feeling encouraged and recognised (13%). If you've tried a variety of incentives and are still seeing the adverse side effects of low motivation, you're not alone. Sometimes even the best managers must think outside the box to find creative and reliable ways to motivate their employees. Motivating and inspiring your employees is not just about giving them a paycheck. It's about creating an environment where they are excited to come to work each day and feel fulfilled by their work.
Motivation and inspiration, what is the difference?
All of us need motivation and inspiration at some point in life. We tend to mix both words, and more importantly, we need to clarify the role of leaders in these two. Many of us might think these two disciplines are the same. However, they're entirely different concepts.
"Don't let the noise of other people's opinions drown out your inner voice." ‒Steve Jobs
While motivation is always from an external source in an external environment, inspiration comes from within. So, to make it more transparent, motivation is self-imposed or societal expectations, obligations and peer pressure that pushes us to do something. At the same time, inspiration is a natural calling that comes deep inside us.
How exactly can company leaders boost motivation?
We constantly hear that leaders are responsible for inspiring their teams to do better and to be motivated by what they do. But how exactly can company leaders boost this motivation? This can be a difficult task, but it is possible. Here are some tips for how to motivate and inspire people in your company:
Make sure that the goal you are setting is attainable. If it's not, it's not motivating—it's frustrating.
Set realistic expectations for yourself and others so that they know where they stand about their performance.
Reward people who perform well with praise (publicly or privately) and bonuses or other perks like free lunches or days off, health benefits, stock options, and daycare and schooling support.
Don't punish those who perform poorly. More importantly, do not humiliate them. Instead, find out why they could be performing better so that you can help them improve their skills or abilities and get back on track again!
Create a culture of trust and collaboration. People who feel they can be themselves at work will be more engaged and motivated.
Give them autonomy over their work tasks and goals. This will help them feel more responsible for their success and motivate them to succeed!
Don't micromanage! Give employees enough space to operate independently, hold them accountable for their performance and results (and give feedback when necessary).
Be transparent with your goals as an organization, so everyone knows what's expected from them—and why it matters!
Inspire them by creating a compelling vision for the team by distilling the company vision into your reality. Be aspirational. Dream big. Be bold.
Focus on the positive. Instead of the negative, focus on what you're grateful for and what you must look forward to. This will help keep you optimistic about your future!
Closing
"Where there is a will, there is a way" is an old saying that motivates and inspires us to work and stay committed to our life goals.
There are many ways to motivate and inspire people. One of the best ways is to tell them what they're working towards and why by creating a compelling vision and mission. A culture of authenticity, trust, and collaboration so that people can feel they matter and belong. Another way is to show them that they are not alone in their efforts and have the support of their team and the company.
The most important thing to remember is that it's about more than just motivating your employees. It's also about inspiring them. People want to be inspired and feel like they're doing something meaningful with their lives, so make sure you allow them to do so!
Casimiro da Silva Santos, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Casimiro da Silva Santos, better known as Cas, uses pronouns he/his. He is a dad, a business and climate action leader, a coach, and a speaker. His mission is to create a perspective of abundance, alleviating scarcity so that we can live a brighter future. After a transformational coaching experience with Simon Sinek Inc., Cas decided to create Bring the Best®, a coaching and consulting firm for personal development and business growth. Through individual, career, and executive coaching, Bring the Best transforms lives so that each person can live the life they want and dream about. His coaching style is authentic and empathetic, with a special focus on the LGBTQIA+ community.
