Why is employee motivation decisive?
Of course motivated employees are always better, but are you aware of how many areas your employees' motivation has an influence on? We have put together a few different reasons for you here:
1. Higher productivity
The most obvious reason is certainly the increase in productivity. Employees who are motivated at work tend to be more productive. They put more energy and commitment into their work. That raises not only the performance of the individual, but in total the overall performance of the company.
2. Better quality of work
Higher productivity is usually followed by higher quality of work. Motivated employees place greater value on their work, make more of an effort and generally have a higher degree of personal responsibility. They are also more willing to make an extra effort to complete their tasks effectively.
3. Low turnover
Motivated employees often feel more strongly connected to the company. They feel like part of the team. That makes it less likely they will leave the company. This in turn reduces the cost and effort of recruiting and onboarding new employees.
4. Better working atmosphere
A motivated team contributes to a positive working atmosphere. Employees who enjoy their work create an environment that encourages collaboration and increases employee satisfaction.
5. Encouraging innovation
High motivation at work and a stronger bond with the company often bring an open attitude with them. Motivated employees are often more open to new ideas and innovations. They bring their own creativity and commitment to their tasks, which in turn strengthens the company's capacity to innovate.
6. Customer loyalty
Motivated employees generally have a more positive attitude towards customers. A cheerful, committed team helps to strengthen customer relationships and increase customer satisfaction. In doing so they also improve the company's image overall, as a brand but also as an employer.
How do you increase employee motivation?
If employee motivation is that important for your business, how do you actually put it into practice? There are various strategies and routes you can take. Not all of them will necessarily be successful in every company, and in the end the success factor depends very strongly on your employees. That is why we want to present a selection of methods.
1. Recognition and praise
Who does not thrive on the feeling of doing their work well and properly? Sometimes we forget that in day-to-day work, though. With stress and many things that have to run in parallel, small things like a “good job” can quickly fall by the wayside. Yet public recognition and praise for good work is exactly what helps your employees feel more valued.
Paula Menninghaus, co-founder of Strong Partners, sums up how important this is:
“I want to keep my people, I want them to be doing well. I do not want to see them as HR – as ‘human resources’: if one is worn out, then on to the next.” – Paula Menninghaus, co-founder & managing director, Strong Partners
Paula describes in detail which pragmatic health and appreciation measures she puts into practice at Strong Partners in the podcast episode „Angepackt“.
2. Development opportunities
One factor that has a very negative effect on your employees is boredom and the feeling of being stuck. Offer your employees opportunities to develop. That can be professional development, training and further education that give your employees the chance to broaden their skills and advance their careers.
3. Flexibility and work design
The option of flexible working models, home office or part-time work improves work-life balance. With a good work-life balance, your employees no longer feel they have too little time for family and friends. If you give them the chance to bring work and private life into balance, that increases their satisfaction at work.
4. Financial incentives
Of course you can also increase your employees' motivation by offering them financial incentives. That can be bonus payments, profit sharing or other financial incentives.
5. Encouraging teamwork
An important factor in increasing employee motivation is how your employees work together. To build general team spirit, you can plan joint projects, team activities and events outside the workplace.
6. Clear communication
Open and transparent communication about company goals, developments and changes creates trust and a sense of belonging. Your employees also want to see the bigger picture behind their work rather than simply being left in the dark.
7. Employee involvement
Involving employees in decision-making processes is often underestimated. Yet it has a major influence on employee motivation. It encourages commitment and identification with the company.
8. Workplace design
It can also be effective to take a look at the office space. Is there a pleasant working environment? Would you feel comfortable here? Ergonomic workstations, for example, also support your employees' health, and modern technology reduces frustration and increases productivity.
9. Making work processes easier
What massively harms our motivation at work is cumbersome processes. Patience often wears thin, especially with bureaucratic matters. You can make your employees' work considerably easier with digital tools. With clockin, sick leave notifications, vacation requests, project planning and team communication go from annoying paperwork chaos to a few taps in the app – whether in the office or out on the road. That lets your employees concentrate again on what they are really there for, instead of putting time and energy into paperwork.
More overview, less administration
So you can concentrate on leading – not on paperwork chaos
With clockin you always have your team's working hours, absences and shift schedules in view – without Excel lists or manual follow-up questions.
- Your team clocks in and out straight from the app – you see everything in real time.
- You plan shifts and absences in one place, without follow-up questions via WhatsApp.
- You export working hours with one click straight to payroll.
What customers say
