Motivating Unmotivated Employees

Regardless of whether you are running a large enterprise or a tiny team of 3, increasing employee motivation will lead to more productivity and ultimately success. There are many factors that can play a part, but finding insight into employee motivation will bring both financial reward as well as an enriched life for all parties. 

Signs of Unmotivated Employees

One of the most prominent signs for demotivated employees is a high employee turnover. If you're effectively running a revolving door with people coming and going it usually suggests there is a problem. Not only is it more difficult to build lasting relationships and rapport, but also it is the first thing new recruits notice which is a warning sign for them about your company. 

Another sign is frequent absence. If the employee cannot feel comfortable in the workplace, they are highly likely to take more time off. Constantly calling in sick or providing recurring excuses that seem a little too well thought out can point towards demotivated employees.

Lastly when things seem alright, you may discover an all-round loss in productivity. Does the workforce not seem to achieve as much with their time as they used to? Are they unable to complete tasks quickly and efficiently anymore? While its possible that the workload has become larger or more difficult, however if you can't really pinpoint a good reason, then it is likely the employees' motivation. 

Determining the Cause

While, you may have recognized that there is a problem and seen the symptoms, it doesn't necessarily mean you know why. The next step is to determine the root cause to be addressed. This step can be difficult as an owner or manager, as it requires you to be objective and reflect on your own abilities. 

Many times, unmotivated employees are a byproduct of poor leadership. If you are unable to lead a team effectively and communicate achievable goals then your employees may become skeptical about the company itself. You may need to change your leadership style.  Being more flexible or available, including employees in decisions, or just getting to know them better may instill confidence and focus.  

Alternatively it could be because the employees feel under-valued. While increasing salary may solve the issue, most people are not totally motivated by money. A lot of self worth is based on importance in the workplace. Making employees feel that they are an important asset to the company will do wonders for motivation. 

The circumstances for each business are different, so you will be required to scrutinize your own scenario and make the judgement calls. An ideal method is to conduct exit interviews if staff members are frequently leaving.  Get their unbiased opinions and you may uncover some insight to turning your employees motivation levels around. 

Improving Motivation Levels in Employees

The final step is to put into effect a plan of action. If you've determined the cause you need to start testing different ways to fix it. If you feel it is because the employees are underpaid, you may increase wages or introduce a profit sharing scheme. Alternatively, restructuring the hierarchy may improve communication and open up new positions employees can advance to. If it is the unrealistic workload that is causing problems, you could look to seek to hire more permanent staff members to share the load.

While implementing correct changes, you'll start to see a positive swing in morale. The overall efficiency of your business will start to increase and eventually so will your financials. As hard as it is growing and expanding as a business, having all your team members on board and working to their best of their ability will only help the company to move forward.