How to keep your staff motivated

A motivated workforce is a great business asset that can help you get ahead of the competition. Effective motivation needs to take account of such varying drivers. People work best when they know what is expected of them. Many also enjoy trying to reach a goal or exceed a target. Such goals and targets should be agreed with the employee, not imposed from above. Follow these tips to keep staff morale high and get them motivated:

• Communicate requirements of the job clearly to staff so that they know exactly what is expected of them.
• Be consistent about staff responsibilities and procedures.
• Recognise signs of stress and burnout in staff, acknowledge them, and look for ways to alleviate the problems.
• Respect that staff have a life outside the office, and provide flexible "personal time" within office policies so that staff can attend medical and dental appointments, school activities with their children, or take a "mental health day" without having to resort to "sick" days.
• Provide fair compensation commensurate with skills and responsibilities, experience and long service.

How does this benefit you? Staff who enjoy a high level of morale will be loyal and hardworking and treating your staff with respect will respond in kind. You'll also stop negativity in the workplace, an unhappy member of staff can influence others to join in the negativity and divert attention from work and performance.