In the world of entrepreneurship, you can draw a direct line between your team’s morale and your bottom line. After all, an empowered sales team is more likely to book prospects than a complacent one.
Of course, your leadership role puts you in the best position to foster an engaging environment that drives employees to reach their full potential. With that in mind, the question begs: How can a business owner ensure that their team remains consistently motivated?
Instill a competitive atmosphere
Competition can be healthy, especially when it pushes your team members to perform their best work. Consider providing incentives to encourage everyone to reach for the stars, whether it’s a monetary bonus or a paid day off. It’s worth noting, however, that monetary incentives are great for getting employees out of a funk, but are not always long-term solutions — therefore, it’s important to plan out more sustainable methods to harness your team’s energy.
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Build upon interpersonal relationships
Earning your employees’ genuine respect can put you on the fast track to success. Instead of shouting out orders and intimidating your employees to work, spend some time celebrating their goals and accomplishments. Connect with them on a personal basis and get to know who they are outside of the office. Stronger office relationships build a solid network within the team, providing employees with the strength and motivation to go above and beyond as well as the comfort to fall back in times of struggle or failure.
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Evaluate your employees’ skills
Every now and then, you may find a great, engaging employee who simply isn’t meeting the numbers. While they may be motivated and responsive to feedback, they just aren’t making the cut in their current position. Don’t be too quick to let these people go; instead, ask yourself if there is a position available that is a better fit for them. Better yet, sit down with them and ask them where they would love to see themselves. If you can help to transition an under-performing employee to a better suited position, you will earn their commitment and motivation through your willingness to keep them onboard and meet their needs.
The biggest solution to complacency is simply to keep things interesting. Don’t let your employees fall into a rut, where they are stuck doing the same things day in and day out. Remember that we are all social beings, so don’t feel the need to hide behind a façade of professionalism all the time. Be sure to allot enough time for laughter and playtime, whether it’s as simple as ordering in lunch for the team or treating them to an annual retreat.
