Managing others is really just developing and cultivating relationships. It’s understanding someone’s unique personality traits, providing guidance and instituting incentives that motivate them to produce quality results in the workplace. In order to motivate others, you have to know what makes them tick. Although money may be the ultimate motivator, there are other things that hold equal measure when it comes to enhancing employee productivity. If you have employee evaluations coming and a raise may be in order, you may want to consider the following:

Recognition

I can’t say enough about this. Praising an employee publicly for a job well done is priceless. When an employee goes above and beyond the call of duty, they deserve to be decorated in front of their peers. It’s imperative that recognition be given at the appropriate moment and setting.

Paid Time Off

Work life balance is golden. In order to enhance productivity during operating hours, it’s important to provide your employees with a proper dose of R&R (rest and relaxation). Employees are more engaged and positive during working hours when they have time to disconnect from the daily grind and free their mind.

Job Title

Which title would motivate you more? Secretary or Executive Assistant? What about Receptionist or Communications Specialist? Although the duties and responsibilities of the aforementioned jobs may be the similar in nature, providing a superior title to a job description will create a sentiment of higher self worth and will produce greater results.

Team Building Activities

A company that plays together stays together. At Planet Beach, we’ve always stated that we are a work hard, play hard organization. That value has always been part of the company’s DNA. An organized party, barbecue or team building activity one Friday out of each month allows employees to connect on a personal level. Let’s face it, you often spend more waking hours with your co-workers than you do with your own family. Instituting team building activities or organizing company socials is a great way to build relationships and boost morale.

Continued Education

Everyone wants to be a expert in their craft. Encourage your employees to read books, attend webinars and training classes that will enhance their knowledge and skill set. Offering employees an opportunity to cross train within an organization is also a strong way to educate the employee, while protecting the interest of the company.

Motivation in business has been analyzed for ages. Although the quest to discover what makes an employee tick may be an ongoing initiative, the answer is really simple. As leaders, we must commit to build meaningful and long-lasting relationships with our employees!   In closing, I’ll leave you with this quote:

“At the core, organizations are just a giant network of relationships. So if you fail to build those relationships, your chances of succeeding are not very high.” -Tom Rath

Written By: Jodie Mateu, VP of Special Events & Productivity