Appreciation is beautiful
Is it even possible to motivate people without giving false incentives? Yes, but you have to have the right base for it. Generally speaking, tailor-made rewards are more useful than lovelessly chosen gifts. Those personal rewards create something more.
Properly motivated, your workforce accomplishes more than the bare necessities and at the same time encourages others to do the same. Would you not want such a team? However, this does not happen just by chance, you have to motivate your team properly. Is that even possible? Incentives can lead to wrong motivations, ones that focus solely on the rewards and not the work. In order to create a healthy base, other things have to be done first.
Everyone likes appreciation
Even if we keep telling ourselves that we are autonomous and independent: we need others to strengthen our self-esteem, that is perfectly normal. And it is even better if it works in the long-term and we can tell our family or coworkers. Feedback that enhances our value — to others and ourselves.
How can you reach the goal?
For motivation to work it must be personal and adapted to the situation, there is no catch-all solution. The following 3 clues can help:
Are all people the same?
No, not all people are the same. Therefore, even before you think about rewards and recognitions: find out about the personal preferences of your employees. You may even create a file. This way you can make sure that your recognition hits home
Better performance = better reward
The significance of your reward should reflect the performance. Someone who has been working overtime with you for a week gets less than someone who has just successfully completed a two-year project. Make sure that the reward also reflects your effort. That way it becomes clear that you have done your part and invested time and thoughts.
Faster is better
In order for your reward to have the desired effect, it should happen as soon as possible after the completion of the task. If you wait, say for a few weeks, it will hardly motivate the employee to repeat the performance. In addition, you should make sure the connection between the reward and the performance is evident: only then you can get across your appreciation properly.
Motivation is a complex phenomenon and it depends on many factors. Make sure fundamental things are working before thinking about additional measures. Just start by saying thank you.
Image: rawpixel.com on Unsplash CC0
Published 08.11.2017 © Brandsoul AG
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