What drives an employee? More specifically, what encourages someone to want to do their job, and do it well? The answers to these questions will give you the insight you need to keep your employees happy and to make sure they do much more than just go through the motions.

It all comes down to motivation. As you’ve almost certainly discovered, employees who lack motivation aren’t just slow to do their own work. They can also be a drag on everyone around them.

How do employees become unmotivated?

Unfortunately, there are quite a few ways in which people lose their desire to work:

• They feel their concerns, problems, suggestions and complaints are ignored by management
• They feel stuck in their current position, with no hope for advancement
• They become bored with routine tasks and are not encouraged to take on additional responsibilities or new projects
• They consistently receive negative feedback, or are rarely noticed for their efforts
• There is no social environment, or the workplace is impersonal

Knowing this, what can you do to change things?

Eleven ways to motivate your employees

1. Provide flexible schedules
   • Allow employees to work schedules that do not adhere to the traditional 9-5 workday
2. Telecommuting
   • Enable employees to work from their home computers a few days each week
3. Conduct regular performance reviews
   • Be sure to provide positive feedback and to suggest ways to improve
4. Provide an outlet for socialization
   • Create after-work activities or hold team builders
5. Insist on an open door policy
   • Allow employees to ask questions or make recommendations
6. Encourage employee contributions
   • Ask for input, even on the most pressing issues
7. Recognize contributions
   • Let employees know that they’re important to the company and that you value what they bring to the table
8. Create an environment of respect
   • Respect your employees and they’ll respect you and their peers and colleagues
9. Keep employees informed
   • Make sure they have sufficient resources available to them and that they know where the company is going
10. Allow employees to be responsible for their own productivity
    • Avoid subjecting them to constant check-ins with their superiors, as this leads to micro managing and a lack of motivation
11. Create a fun and stimulating work environment

Remember, money isn’t the only thing you can offer an employee to increase his or her motivation. If it is, and if the employee finds out the money is better somewhere else, you can be sure they’ll be motivated … to join another company.