Motivation in the Workplace

27th April 2021 | 3 min read

LABS-Motivate-Blog-Post-Motivation in the Workplace

Defined as the desire or willingness to do something, motivation is what fuels us to turn up to the office each day, makes us want to do our best and produce great work, as well as inspiring us to pursue the next step in our careers.

Within the workplace motivation can be seen in the production of outstanding work, the winning of awards, through the coaching and motivation of others and in helping change the company for the better.

However, if employees or teams feel demotivated, they are unlikely to give 100% and work will not be of the highest quality.

Demotivation can spread from person to person, creating problems with teamwork and communication. This could see a businesses employee retention rates fall as people seek more challenging roles, or jobs at more motivated and positive companies. Over time, demotivation can also lead to mental health problems and employees may need more time off work as a result.

To help you ensure your team or employees are motivated to succeed here are some methods that can be used to boost motivation in the workplace.


Tips to help drive motivation in the workplace

Set clear goals
Without something to aim for, employees can quickly become demotivated, so the provision of clear goals and targets to create purpose is needed. Explaining to your team or employees why the work they are doing is so important, and describing the impact their work will have for the business will help them to connect with the work and feel as though they are making a real difference. Let them know that even the smallest tasks play a significant role in the success of a company.

Implement rewards and positive reinforcement
Rewards go a long way to increasing motivation. If you are able to offer employees perks and rewards for great work, as well as training schemes and workshops to help further their career, employee satisfaction will rise and you’ll have a much more motivated workforce. Recognition, praise and positive reinforcement will also help boost employees self-esteem and make them feel valued. If you have to deliver negative feedback, give it a positive spin by pointing out what the person already does well and suggest areas for improvement.

Talk to your employees
Speaking to your employees and asking for their feedback is an invaluable way of measuring workplace motivation. Find out what makes your employees tick – what motivates them? What do they want from their role and from the company? Gathering feedback on your workplace culture is also useful, as perceived unfair treatment of employees, discrimination and inequality and unpleasant colleagues can all feed demotivation.

Take action
It’s not only important to talk to your employees and listen to what they have to say, you need to be ready to take action based on this feedback. Being heard and then seeing changes and improvements taking place will make your employees feel valued and motivate them to give their best to the business.

Encourage relaxation and fun
The proverb “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” is definitely true in the workplace. Encourage your employees or team to make time for their physical and mental health by taking regular breaks and offering incentives for healthy eating or exercising. You could also organise fun team activities like wine tastings, pub quizzes or virtual games nights. This will help make employees feel looked after and welcomed, which will increase motivation.