Employee Motivation | How to Keep Employees Motivated

This article is one of Christine's most popular articles. It has been published in American
Chamber Executives Association, ISSA Prochem UK, Prochem Australia, Construction
Financial Management Association and numerous additional publications worldwide.

When employees are asked this question, you might think the response would be "It's my job to keep myself motivated." But, in reality, the most frequent answer is, "It's my boss's job."

Surprised? Don't be. In an ideal world, motivation would come exclusively from within. More often than not, however, it's up to management to maintain employee morale. It takes dynamic leadership to activate, and preferably inspire self-motivation in those you lead to ensure future success. Regardless of the size of your company, it isn't just strategic marketing and sound decision making that's vital to your success. It's constant development of your "human capital" that holds the key to sustainable, long-term growth.

Those you lead are responsible for the reputation your company has in the marketplace. They hold the key to the solutions to your problems, methods to improve quality, new types of services to provide, and the ideas about what the company needs to do to move forward. Assuming, of course, that you know how to generate from them their own ideas in these areas.

Can you give someone motivation? Many believe that only an individual can motivate himself or herself. But as an executive, manageror supervisor, you can obviously nourish and sustain that self-motivation.The key is to keep them in the right frame of mind by making them feelthat they are working with you, not for you. If they feel they only workingfor you, many of them will merely go through the motions to protect theirjob and their paycheck. They will never put their hearts and souls intotheir work, nor will they show initiative beyond their immediate responsibilities.

To make a difference in your company, you must be a greatperson to work with. By consistently doing the things that build relationships-suchas taking the time you're your demanding schedule for expressing appreciation,requesting suggestions and then listening carefully to them, and encouragingnew and better ideas-you will show them you care. You also need to Fundamentally,you gain control by not trying to exercise control. This behavior in amanager helps to encourage employees to be cooperative and productiveof their own free will. In fact, the secret is to act more like a leaderand less like a boss. In other words, someone you would be excited aboutworking with.

Warren Bennis once said that a boss is someone who commandsothers to do what needs to be done. But a leader is someone who inspiresto help do what needs to be done and to do it well.

The Boss	VS	The Leader
Says, "GO!"		Says, "Let's go!"
Says: "That's the decision"		Says: "I'm not sure what the outcome of this decision will be, but we're all going to roll up our sleeves and pull together to make it happen. And, I'll do all I can to help you."
Depends on authority		Depends on goodwill
Pushes you to produce		Pulls you by acting as a role model
Commands		Communicates
Uses people		Serves People
Sees what is		Sees what could and should be
Focuses on what is most urgent		Focuses on what is most important
Lets you know where you are		Let's you know where you could be
Works hard to achieve immediate results		Works hard to achieve ultimate objectives
Seeks credit and recognition		Shares credit generously
Inspires fear		Inspires enthusiasm
Says, "I"		Says, "We"
Blames for problems		Works with others to solve problems
Drives people		Grows people
Is concerned with looking good		Is concerned with their team looking good
		Expects high performance, but inspires people to deliver their best

Employee motivation, of course, involves a great deal more than being a single great leader, it involves your culture, systems, reward and recognition practices, procedures, the dedication of your employees and more. But for now, simply ask yourself this question: Would you work for you???????