4 ways to motivate your team and increase productivity

Did you know that only 15% of employees worldwide feel engaged? It can be tough to keep your team motivated day in and day out. With deadlines, projects, and meetings, it's easy for teams to get bogged down and feel overwhelmed.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do as a leader to help increase your team's motivation, engagement, and productivity. Keep reading for 4 ways to inspire your team and build an energetic office space that people want to wake up for.

1. Get to know your team on a personal level

Ambition and personal development are important, but so is the team. A study of 294 teams found that a focus on cohesive work relationships with employees resulted in higher performance and success.

You must take the time to get to know your team members on a personal level. By building relationships, you're able to understand what motivates them, and how to build the best team environment.

Team building activities are an effective way to practice this. The activity should be something that will promote teamwork and communication, while also being engaging for everyone involved in a way that isn’t too robotic or corporate. Here are some examples of activities that can build work relationships:

Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is a great way to encourage your team to work together, testing communication skills as teams will need to work together to find all of the items on the list. This can be done indoors or outdoors, and can be tailored to any group size.

Escape Room

An escape room is another activity that promotes teamwork and communication, as teams will need to work together to solve puzzles and bring out some competitive spirit to beat the clock as a unit.

2. Encourage open communication 

In one survey, 33% of human resources managers voted that a breakdown of communication was the fundamental factor for a disengaged workforce. As much as 60% of companies don’t have a long-term communication strategy, so start by providing a plan to combat this disengagement if you haven't already.

When employees feel comfortable communicating openly with their co-workers, they are more likely to be honest and forthcoming with their ideas, suggestions, and concerns. This leads to a more cohesive team that is able to work together towards common goals.

To develop employee engagement and communication, you must first identify what the problems are. Common problems with communication in the workplace include:

• Colleagues not listening to each other.
  
• No time allocated to sharing perspectives.
  
• Poor communication skills.
  

Think about common problems in communication that your team face, and create a communication strategy to battle them. In order to create a communication strategy, you must first understand the different types of communication. There are three main types: verbal, nonverbal, and written. Each type has its own unique purpose and should be used accordingly.

Verbal communication is best for face-to-face interactions and is the most effective way to build relationships with others.

Nonverbal communication includes facial expressions, gestures, and body language, which are often more powerful than words in conveying meaning.

Written communication includes memos, emails, letters, and reports, which are perfect for transmitting information over a distance or when the tone is difficult to convey in person.

By understanding the different types of communication and their purposes, you can better tailor your strategy to fit the needs of your business.

3. Celebrate success in the workplace

It’s always a good idea to celebrate success at work. A job well done should be rewarded, and it’s invaluable taking the time to recognize and appreciate accomplishments. But what’s the best way to do it? Here are some tips for celebrating success at work:

Make it a team effort

Has your team smashed their monthly targets? Don’t take all the credit yourself and make sure to recognize the contributions of your team. They’re the ones who helped make your success possible, after all. A simple “thank you” goes a long way.

Celebrate in a way that’s meaningful to you

Not everyone celebrates in the same way. Some people like to take their team out for drinks, while others prefer a more low-key celebration, like an unhealthy ice cream order for the office. Choose a method of celebration that works best for you and your team.

Don’t forget about the little things

It’s important to celebrate your big successes, but don’t forget about the small ones, too. Achieving a goal, no matter how small, is still something to be celebrated. Recognizing and rewarding all of your team’s efforts will help keep them motivated.

4. Offer extra incentives 

Sometimes all it takes is a little extra incentive to get your team members motivated. On top of celebrating your success, offering bonuses and other incentives can go a long way.    

While some may be motivated by monetary rewards, others may be more motivated by recognition or opportunities for advancement. More examples include:

Offer flexible work arrangements

Flexible work arrangements are becoming more and more popular, and for good reason. They allow employees to have a better work-life balance, which can lead to increased productivity and overall satisfaction. So consider offering flexible work options, like remote work or flexible hours, as an incentive for your employees.

Give employees the opportunity to learn and grow

Employees want to feel like they’re growing in their careers. Learning new skills is a big part of personal development, so offer opportunities for professional training like seminars, webinars, or courses. This way, they can enhance their skills and feel more confident in their abilities.

More team productivity tips

As a team leader, these are just a few ways that you can motivate the people around you to boost productivity levels.

Keep in mind that what works for one team might not work for another—so it's important to tailor your approach based on the specific needs of your team. However, if you follow these tips, you should start seeing some positive results and happy faces.

Enrich your leadership skills and go to our blog for more posts on teamwork, productivity tips, and time-saving tool guides designed with solutions in mind. 

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