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Employee motivation is one of the key factors that lead to an organization’s success. It is something that drives the employees to be loyal and committed towards the company. It moves them to increase their work productivity. How does a company’s culture shape employee motivation? What does it mean for the company to motivate the employees? In this article, we look into the importance of employee motivation and find out how it can help change the way employees treat their work.
Employee motivation is the level of energy, commitment, enthusiasm, and creativity or innovation brought in by a company’s employees every day. The form of motivation the employees receive plays a part in their engagement with the company’s goals and affects how they reach those goals.
Motivation can be either intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation paves way for an employee’s inner zeal towards their work that can be encouraged by their managers through approval for exemplary work performance. Extrinsic motivation takes place when the employees as rewarded by their organization in the form of bonuses, perquisites, awards, or such factors.
One of the main reasons employee motivation is integral to a company is that it facilitates the organization to reach its goals. One should make sure that the employees are satisfied with their work environment. The company should reward employees sufficiently during their term. This leads to an increase in their willingness to learn new skills.
One of the intrinsic factors of motivation is the psychological concept of self-realization. It is a way for humans to realize and express themselves through their work. Studies indicate that one connects their personality to the fulfillment of their work goals and the achievement of these goals makes them feel like they are a part of a larger community, working towards similar objectives.
John Adam’s ‘equity theory of motivation’ states that fairness motivates people. If an individual senses inequality between themselves and their peers, they work towards bridging the gap. They could do so by working at par with their peer for recognition or decreasing their work productivity, thus creating a fair scenario.
Some of the key factors that make employee motivation an important part of an organization’s growth include:
Organizational Performance - Motivation makes the employees more satisfied with their selves, which leads to better productivity as they are inclined to find ways to improve their work performance and outputs.
Creativity- People, when they feel happy and safe, are more creative and driven to be more innovative strategies to improve their work.
Absenteeism- When the employees feel safe and comfortable in their work environment with less amount of pressure, they are less inclined to skip work or apply for leaves.
Employee Turnover- A positive atmosphere at the organization ensures that the employees feel committed to their workplace and do not feel the need to switch companies.
Happy Clients- Positive feedback motivates the employees to work according to the clients’ needs to keep up with the company’s reputation.
Recruitment- If the employees are satisfied with the work culture, they may, in turn, give recommendations for the company that could lead to stronger leads for recruitment.
Ways to improve employee engagement to improve motivational levels include:
The leaders should create a rapport with the employees and treat them with respect. They should make sure they take out time to interact with every employee at an individual level, clearly communicate with them about their work performance and what is expected of them.
When the company acknowledges the employees for their efforts, it leads to an increase in their self-worth and boosts their morale. It also motivates them to work towards achieving greater goals.
The goals and objectives should be clearly stated to the employees. It helps the employees focus on what kind of work is expected of them and helps them structure their work accordingly. Setting up small targets that are easier to achieve, leave the employees satisfied and motivated.
A positive work culture gives equal importance to all its employees instead of pitching them against each other to reach their goals. When the employees believe in the company’s objectives and how they help the customers, they are motivated towards fulfilling the goals.
It is beneficial for the employees as well as the company’s goals when the employees are encouraged to work in teams. When people work in a team, they get a chance to indulge their skills and ideas in one place. This induces a better work environment for the employees. It encourages them to work together towards a common goal.
A positive work environment, where the employees are motivated through the means of better healthcare, career enhancement, improved skillset along with rewards from the company, brings about an increase in the company’s outputs. When employees have clear work goals and job satisfaction, they are driven to improve their work performance for the sake of the company’s growth. The company’s management team should be approachable and regular feedback or surveys should be conducted to ensure the employees are satisfied with the work environment.
