Being in charge of a large group of people at work can be a daunting task. Different personalities and different attitudes can often clash. So it’s equally important for the company, the employees and indeed the manager, that the workforce is motivated to succeed and work well together. But how do you motivate a large team of employees?
Below are four tips for ensuring that your large workforce are all pulling together – in the right direction.
Hold Meetings
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Meetings for the sake of meetings are not popular and are generally considered a waste of time.
However, holding meetings where you can update your team on company developments can be helpful. They can often be a good opportunity to reward individual success and good work.
Holding over for a drink on a Friday afternoon often works too, allowing workers to bond with each other and you to bond with them as well.
Reward Performance – Not Position
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When you’re at the bottom of the pile in the workplace, it can be very discouraging to see senior workers being praised and given benefits. Everyone knows that the work carried out by the juniors, while not as glamorous, is equally important to business success.
Giving juniors reasons to perform well will aid your business – and see them striving to reach their next promotion.
Make Work Fun!
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Perhaps this is too obvious, but making work a fun environment leads to positive spirits and a high level of performance.
We’re by no means suggesting you give employees too many distractions, but the occasional laugh, joke, table tennis tournament or similar fun event will enable workers to bond and feel more like a team – and we all know the benefits of teamwork.
Speak to Your Staff
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We’ve mentioned holding team meetings, but it’s equally important to spend regular time with individual staff. This enables you to deal with any issues they have, give individual tips and advice, and set short term and long term targets that will give each worker a good incentive to perform well.
These meetings should be a two way street, though – enabling staff to give you their ideas as to how the company can perform better.
Staff motivation is essential to the success of any business. But large businesses, including large call centers, often benefit more than most from good motivation.
Success thrives on high spirits and positive attitudes – so keeping your staff focused and motivated is key to your company’s success.
Ryan Biddulph
Reward performance! This is a big one. If workers see rewards for their efforts you will motivate your team effectively.
Thanks for sharing Dale!
Ryan
I have to agree with you, Dale. Make meetings worthwhile. If they are too unproductive for you, maybe it’s time to decrease the amount of meetings but in turn each meeting has to be special, distinct, productive and memorable.
Dale,
I agree – speaking to our staffs is very important. When I was running a 15-person business, I do a weekly briefing to all and monthly, I have a one-to-one meeting and talk personally to each and every staff. It’s making a big difference in their performance 🙂
Aira Bongco
And make work fun. People in general are more productive if they are working with people who they are comfortable with. As long as they are in a fun environment, they’ll be sure to perform at optimum.
Making work a fun environment leads to positive spirits and a high level of performance. Staff will perform their level best and the company benefits.
Great advice, it’s definitely important to keep your employees happy and engaged.
In a past life, when I used to be a web developer, we’d sometimes go out on a Friday – a restaurant, pub, go-karting. It really helped bring the team closer together.
At another place I worked, there was always music playing in the background and the dress code was casual. 🙂
Dale,
I really enjoyed your article. I find that good communication, inclusion and fun make for a very motivated group. I like that you mentioned fun. It seems that people working in this atmosphere are more open to share innovations and ideas and tend to be more solutions oriented. Great information.