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Management
Motivating Your Employees
By justBurbank.com | March,2008
Once you have your dream team in place, you will still need to find ways to keep them motivated and as enthusiastic as you are about the company’s future as well as their own. Most executives think that the best way to motivate employees is with cash or bonuses. Cash is certainly one option however here are some more creative ways to inspire which have proven to be just as, if not more, effective:
1. Flextime: Unless you’re in a business that absolutely requires employees to be at their desks all the time, offering employees the chance to work more flexible hours, can be a huge incentive. Many people in today’s workforce are balancing family, work and even school commitments, and the availability of a flexible work schedule can be a huge benefit.
2. Company-paid-for-breakfasts, lunches or even dinners: This can also be a great opportunity for team building in your organization.
3. Entertainment: Try offering Blockbuster coupons, free movie passes or tickets to see their favorite sports team as rewards for hitting production targets.
4. Education: Most employers and employees are aware of today’s competitive business environment and value continuing education. Offering to pay for classes or tuition can be a benefit to both employer and employee. There are hundreds of seminars, trade shows, expos and public events that can enhance an employee’s skills.
5. Employee discount: Have a desirable product (retail store)? Giving big discounts to employees will make them customers as well. They will learn all about your product, which is also a plus.
6. Cleaning and maintenance services: Hire someone to wash their car, clean their home or apartment or make dinners for a week…what a treat!
7. Massages, facials, makeovers: Or as a health benefit…offer free health club memberships. And remember, employees that are healthy and fit are also more productive.
8. Games: Injecting the competitive spirit into your sales force’s efforts can be highly productive as well as fun. For example, one restaurant gave each of its staff a “Bingo” card but instead of numbers the squares were filled with items from the menu and cash prizes. Sometimes it doesn’t even matter what the winning prize is – just winning becomes a great incentive.
9. Discount on office equipment: If you’re buying new computers, offer the old ones to employees for free or at a bargain basement rate. If employees are ready to upgrade their personal equipment, offer to piggyback their sales onto your own corporate buy for a bigger overall discount for everyone.
10. Swapping services with other businesses: This can be a win-win for both businesses. If your employees need their daily fix of caffeine in the morning, offer the local java stop a discount on your products in exchange for a nice percentage off mochas and lattes for your staff.
11. Frequent Flyer Miles: If you’ve got enough frequent flyer miles to get you to Jupiter and back, find out if you can pass these on to your employees.
12. Incentives, profit sharing: Can’t do a 401k…there are other ways to tie bonuses to the company’s success. Offer vacation trips or other big prizes to the entire sales team if they hit an annual target. This gives everyone a vested interest in your company’s growth.
There are probably many ideas that might hit home even more within your company’s culture or mindset. You can always ask them for ideas and see what they feel would inspire.
The team at www.justBurbank.com collaborates on our articles. Each employee, contributes, then Kate edits for business-appropriateness, and Libby edits to make sure the article is funny and juicy. Our aim is to write helpful & entertaining articles.
