| Sometimes it seems like a world of buzzwords when | | | | employee’s particular role for insuring company |
| you read about employee “empowerment” and | | | | success; job skills training that enables an employee to |
| “improving morale” and even “motivating | | | | properly perform duties; and a business culture that |
| staff”. It’s easy to throw the buzzwords around, | | | | encourages personal development. |
| but issues that are so critical to a company should not | | | | Energizing Motivation |
| be “buzzing”. This is especially true when | | | | You will notice that motivation is not a static or singular |
| addressing the issue of motivation. | | | | concept. It requires staff and management participation; |
| The interesting aspect of employee motivation is that | | | | company focus on personal enrichment; and skills |
| there are many workers, both management and staff, | | | | training. Motivating staff requires effort all along the |
| who are motivated to succeed, but unfortunately that | | | | spectrum. |
| potential success is not seen as related to their current | | | | So exactly how do you motivate staff? The path to |
| position or the tasks they are performing on a regular | | | | motivating staff is to focus on the mission of the |
| basis. In other words, they see their job as a stepping | | | | company and then translate that mission into personal |
| stone to another company or as a temporary | | | | success. There is an enormous untapped potential in |
| diversion until the “real opportunity” comes along. | | | | the labour force of most companies simply because |
| Many employees also feel disenfranchised within their | | | | people feel removed from the processes that equate |
| organisation and believe their contributions to the | | | | to company success. That leads to a workforce |
| company’s success are overlooked and | | | | searching for personal meaning (eventually with a |
| underappreciated. | | | | position at a competitor!) or a workforce that is not |
| In the “feel good” society in which we live, it’s | | | | mentally or emotionally connected to the company |
| easy to get bogged down in buzzwords, sensitivity | | | | mission and thus underproductive. |
| training, and motivational speeches intended to prove | | | | Motivating employees takes a concerted effort on |
| to employees that management “cares”. All that | | | | many levels. It begins with training that is focused. |
| really happens is that more buzzwords enter the | | | | * Creating a corporate culture that promotes staff |
| picture. | | | | involvement and reduces resistance to change |
| Inspiring Action | | | | * Developing responsive management that values |
| This is a common mistake companies make because | | | | employee input |
| they believe any staff training, even if it is ineffective, is | | | | * Encouraging team participation |
| bound to have a positive impact. Unfortunately that is | | | | * Developing team leaders able to motivate others |
| not necessarily true. Motivating staff involves a lot | | | | * Becoming an organisation that is able to cross |
| more than throwing out some buzzwords in a speech. | | | | traditional functions and communication barriers |
| Motivation is not about inspiration. It is about presenting | | | | * Creating positive energy that promotes individual |
| information that inspires someone to ACT. Inspiring | | | | success while also advancing company progress |
| someone means influencing or guiding them, whereas | | | | Motivating employees requires leadership development, |
| motivating a person refers to moving them to | | | | management building, team building, customer service |
| ACTION. | | | | training, and individual empowerment. Each staff |
| The goal of motivating staff needs to be even more | | | | member from the chief executive all the way through |
| well-defined. Staff should be motivated to act in a way | | | | the organisation needs the right tools and the right |
| that promotes the success of the company where | | | | attitude in order for a company to experience |
| they work. This goal gets to the heart and soul of a | | | | success. |
| motivational program designed to give staff the tools | | | | The bottom line is motivating staff takes focused |
| needed to succeed. These tools include an | | | | training. Those are not buzz words either! |
| understanding of the mission of the company and the | | | | |