Executives are faced with the challenging task of motivating employees and ensuring that they feel engaged with their work. Maintaining accountability while ensuring employee satisfaction is a delicate balancing act.
To ensure this balance, business leaders must create an environment of high morale and rapport, and at the same time, compel employees to take ownership of their roles.
When leaders give workers freedom and flexibility, accountability and self-motivation are intuitive. Conversely, micromanagement often creates an environment where staff members do little more work than what’s required.
A commanding leadership style may help business leaders feel in control, but it only creates fear among staff members. In this kind of environment, authentic accountability is rare.
Coerced accountability doesn’t last long. Yes. Employees will do their job for overbearing bosses, and they may even do it well, but they’ll typically only do what they believe will keep them in their manager’s good graces. However, extraordinary performance and creativity seldom thrive in this environment.
For business leaders who are used to controlling many moving parts, trusting employees to shine on their own can prove challenging. To help facilitate this, the following 4 ideas can help executives to engage and motivate staff members.
Idea 1: Bolster Their Morale with Positive Reinforcement
For employers and employees alike, conversations about poor work performance are awkward and uncomfortable. However, there’s no avoiding them. Improving poor employee performance is essential for leading an organization forward.
When guiding employee work, ongoing positive reinforcement and support are far better than intimidation and micromanagement. Furthermore, employees who feel that their manager is supportive are more likely to make a concerted effort to improve.
Idea 2: Reward Them with Enticing Incentives for Good Work
Employee recognition is a highly effective way for business leaders to motivate employees. Managers can offer recognition by providing rewards to individuals or teams who perform exceptionally well.
Acknowledgments can range from a basic reward such as praise in brand publications and social media to lavish corporate gifts such as an all-expenses-paid retreat or a luxury ship charter. Managers can also offer rewards in the form of verbal or written commendation for remarkable work performance.
Idea 3: Encourage Communication Between Executives and Staff Members
Studies show that employees who feel supported by executive management are more likely to feel more invested in their work and appreciated by their company. When senior management engages with the front-line, it’s a memorable experience for employees.
Accordingly, senior managers and executives should communicate with staff members of all levels honestly and frequently. Also, executive management can build rapport with employees by holding regular meetings that include all staff members.
In addition, executives can increase their presence by participating in various departmental meetings. They can also communicate sincere interest in staff members by walking through work areas and demonstrating a heartfelt interest in their activities.
Idea 4: Promote Career Advancement and Development
It’s human nature for individuals to want to improve. Duly, it’s essential that managers prevent employees from falling into a rut of repetitive work.
Also, managers can enhance the connection that employees feel with their work by inviting them to sit in on supervisory meetings. This privilege can make it easier for employees to envision taking on more responsibility. In fact, the opportunity to take on more important work within an organization should be part of any employee’s formal career development plan.
A supportive environment and ongoing communication can create a safe workspace for employees. It also enhances job satisfaction. This setting creates an atmosphere where managers can count on staff members doing their best work without the need for continuous oversight. With sincere empathy for staff members, forward-thinking managers can support and empower employees to perform optimally.
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