Having trouble getting workers fired up about a project or
your company in general? We've compiled some pointers from the experts.
Any CEO knows that employee motivation is a key to
individual performance, group productivity, and maintaining a pleasant office
culture. So how do you do it exactly? For a dose of inspiration on how to
motivate those who work for you, we've compiled the best recent pointers on the
subject from articles published in Inc. magazine and on Inc.com.
1. Set a Good Example.
Remember that your attitude is contagious. Kevin Plank,
founder of Under Armour, an apparel company located in Baltimore, says that
communication is key to making members of your company's team feel including in
major decisions. "I listened to everyone's opinions, and, without fail,
they'd bring up things I hadn't thought of. More important, my team members
knew that they were part of the process and that their voices mattered,"
he told Inc. "Employees are more motivated when they feel needed,
appreciated, and valued." Plank also recommends hiring employees who have
great leadership skills. At his company, he calls these natural leaders "engines,"
and peppers them strategically around the organization.
2. Focus on Employee Happiness Rather Than Employee
Motivation.
Zappos is often hailed as the most employee-friendly
business out there. But, perks aside, what really keeps the workers there
motivated? When Inc.'s Max Chafkin last interviewed Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh in
Las Vegas, he discovered that what Hsieh really cares about is making Zappos's
employees and customers feel really, really good. In fact, he's decided that
his entire business revolves around happiness. Chafkin writes: "Zappos's
approach to workplace bliss differs significantly from that of other employee-friendly
businesses. For one thing, Zappos pays salaries that are often below market
rates - the average hourly worker makes just over $23,000 a year.
