Friday, February 19, 2010

Keeping Employees Motivated

From a Harvard Business School article:

First step: stop demotivating employees

According to the author there are just three important factors that matter most when it comes to keeping employees motivated:

  • Equity: To be respected and to be treated fairly in areas such as pay, benefits, and job security.
  • Achievement: To be proud of one's job, accomplishments, and employer.
  • Camaraderie: To have good, productive relationships with fellow employees.

Interestingly, the author found that if one of the above factors is missing, then they cannot be substituted with another factor (for e.g: higher pay).

And here are the main things the author says managers can do in different areas:

  • Achievement related
    • Instill an inspiring purpose
    • Provide recognition
    • Be an expediter for your employees
    • Coach your employees for improvement
  • Equity related
    • Communicate fully
    • Face up to poor performance
  • Camaraderie related
    • Promote teamwork
  • All three areas (Achievement, Equity and Camaraderie)
    • Listen and involve

Read the entire article as it elaborates on the above listed points.

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/5289.html

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