The one area that every employer wants to improve is employee motivation. Most employers understand the importance of the workforce and how motivation can increase productivity. Go ahead and increase productivity and your business is well on the way to more sales and bigger profits.
But, for all its importance, it is the one area where almost every business fails. To make sure that it is not a problem for your firm, you need to be aware of the areas that can increase happiness and, therefore, motivation.
Office Space
The last thing that motivates a person is an office that feels like a jail cell. Offices have the tendency to feel incredibly impersonal, and that makes going to work a problem. Before your team has even set foot in the building they don’t want to be there, and the result is not going to be positive.
As you can now see, it is important that you make the office as homely as possible. Start by taking care of the desks. Desks should have enough space so as not to make people feel claustrophobic, so desk solutions are a good option. For more info on desk solutions, click here. Also, the lighting plays a big part. The office needs to be well lit to promote a positive work ethic. Finally, consider the temperature. No one wants to work in overbearing conditions.
Breaks
Breaks are a big sticking point for employers and employees. Obviously, employees want as many breaks as possible, while employers want to limit breaks to a minimum. From your point of view, it is important to remember that breaks are a great way to keep the team fresh and engaged.
When they are sat at their desk all day, they will lose focus and start slacking. The normal way is to give the office an hour at lunch and work through the afternoon. However, you can go for a thirty-minute lunch break and two fifteen minute breaks throughout the day. That gives them targets to work towards and more time out of the office. Although they lose half an hour at lunch, most employees prefer this method.
Flexibility
Bosses like to do everything to their specifications. The problem with this method is that it makes the office feel as if they are at school. You are the headmaster, and they are the naughty children who have to do what you say. In reality, they are adults who need their independence because most adults don’t respond well to orders. They should be able to get up and go to the toilet or make a cup of coffee without an interrogation.
Power
Okay, you don’t want to give them too much power because there will be a coup d’état! Yet, you need to give them the power to make some decisions. It builds trust because they sense that you trust them to make a difference to the business. Plus, it is also important for efficiency because it doesn’t slow down the business processes.
When employees are happy, they are motivated. And when they are motivated, they are the most important part of any business.
