If you’re worried about any of your employees there’s a smart solution: incorporating basic psychological theories in the workplace.
Know the Research
Psychologists are continually publishing new research on efficiency, happiness, and personal autonomy, all of which can be useful to businesses. One area that applies directly to the workplace is self-determination theory, which explains that people want autonomy in their lives–they don’t want to be programmable robots or lemmings. Just giving workers the ability to say no enhances positive feelings, diminishing their resentment toward doing what feels like menial labor or grunt work. And skipping criticism to focus on employees’ strengths leads to dramatic changes: engagement increases by a third and active disengagement can all but disappear.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Creating relevant teams and units, both through social events and competitions, can connect employees and make them feel more devoted to success.
Your business should focus on fostering an environment that understands and respects your specific employees. One company might create a video of top employees, encouraging others to follow in their footsteps; another might focus on a weekly email highlighting the successes and events in various people’s lives. That’s why it’s important to understand both the research and your own employees when trying to boost motivation levels.
Don’t Stop Paying Attention
Very little about running a business is static, so don’t expect employee motivation to stay exactly the same at all times. Keep an eye on engagement techniques and levels as time goes on, and enjoy watching the productivity increases that happier, more enthusiastic employees can bring.
