Image by Alexandra_Koch from Pixabay
By Henry Brown
This year has been a tough one on businesses, and keeping your employees motivated can be difficult. With everything up in the air, people having to take on roles and responsibilities they mightn’t have before, the fear of redundancy, and working from home away from a team, it is no wonder. Because of this, it is important to work hard and ensure that your workforce’s motivation doesn’t dwindle.
In the same way as you have to be prepared with aspects such as taxes, insurance, or professional liability coverage for your business, you need to have a plan for this. With dwindling employee motivation, your business will suffer from fewer profits, higher staff turnover, and poorer quality work, which could avoid repeat business from clients. Here are some top ways to encourage your employees to stay motivated during the pandemic.
Offer praise
Times are tough, and it can leave employees feeling disheartened. Campaigns or tasks they might have worked on for months may no longer be able to come to fruition, or without the opportunity to speak to you in person, might feel they aren’t doing as good a job. Praise can go a long way in boosting someone’s morale and shows you appreciate their efforts. This can be done in the form of something as simple as an email or phone call, but you could also send them a reward or give them a shout-out in your next virtual meeting to ensure they know you are grateful for what they do.
Check-in with them regularly
Mental health has been a big struggle for many over the past few months, and it is important to check-in and ensure your employees are okay. This gesture will mean a lot and can be very beneficial for their mental wellbeing. Just by showing you care and are there for them can have a significant impact. Find out if they are impacted and if you can help in any way. If their workload is getting too much or doing a very stressful task, see if there is any way you can help relieve this or aid them in any way.
Don’t let the social aspect of work slide
Many people love the social aspect of working in an office and miss things such as Friday drinks or mingling with their colleagues throughout the day. To keep them motivated, ensure this social element isn’t completely removed. Why not move your Monday morning meeting to a Friday Zoom meeting accompanied by beer and snacks? You could send your employees gift certificates so they can buy their adult beverage of choice. This gesture and the chance for everyone to catch up at the end of the week will increase everyone’s motivation.
These are just a few ways you can encourage your employees to stay motivated during the pandemic. It is essential to always check in with your staff and ensure they are happy to get the maximum motivation. If you show you care about them and their work, they will show you the same respect.
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Henry Brown is an online marketing executive. When he isn’t talking shop, he’s roaming the streets of London, uncovering the extra-ordinary in the ordinary.
