There are tons of self-help and qualified experts giving advice on how to motivate employees – but is motivating a business the same thing? Not necessarily.
“A business is made up of employees, so the assumption is that if you motivate employees, you will motivate the business,” says Dr. Bobby Grossi, a motivational speaker and author of the book Destiny is Not Hereditary: How Becoming A Better You Impacts Others (www.drbobbyjgrossi.com). “That is not necessarily the case.’’
For example, if employees are motivated for the wrong reasons – such as focused only on money to the detriment of the overall health of the company – that can be a problem, Dr. Grossi says.
Plus, many surveys have found that employees (once they are given a living wage) are not primarily motivated by more money.
Psychology Today noted recently that most raises need to be at least 5 to 7% to truly motivate employees, and most raises are below that threshold. This is especially true if the employer wants to impact daily behavior.
But other perks – meaningful work, good colleagues and prestigious work – in many situations can be primary motivators for employees.
Dr. Grossi says there are several ways employers can create motivated employees that really will impact the bottom line;
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Trust your employees. You get trust by giving it. Trust your employees with more responsibility and see if it impacts their performance and attitude.
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Treat your employees like people, not things. Don’t treat your employees like they are machines. Enhance the social aspects of your workplace so employees feel they are part of a lively, energetic and positive team. The result will be increased productivity, reduced conflict and better problem-solving.
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Respect your employees. Respect is a two-way street. If you respect employees, they will respect you and your business. How do you show respect? Most importantly, by listening to them. Look them in the eye and don’t be distracted. Your employees are your most important asset, so treat them that way.
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Be transparent. The more transparency your company has, the easier it will be to get employees to pull together when times are challenging. Plus, they will also feel they are more a part of the victory when accomplishments are achieved.
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Give employees authority. Employees need to feel like they’re in control of their careers and have a say in what they do. This breeds confidence and encourages professional growth.
“It is not always about the money; sometimes it is about making employees feel their lives will be enriched by the work experience,” Dr. Grossi says. “While these things don’t cost money, they do require the employer to consciously make investments in employees.”
About Dr. Grossi
Dr. Bobby Grossi is a motivational speaker and author of the book Destiny is Not Hereditary: How Becoming A Better You Impacts Others (www.drbobbyjgrossi.com). Dr. Grossi owns and operates two dental practices and is the co-owner of Great Lakes Dental Design. He founded the Grossi Institute for Dental Assisting in 2016, where he currently teaches. Dr. Grossi received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan in 1998, and graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in 2003 with a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree. He lives in Linden, Mich., with his wife, Sabrina, and their three children: son Brayden, and daughters Andelina and Zandria. He enjoys motivational speaking and writing.
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