How to motivate a team in 12 easy ways

What do you think gets your employees out of bed in the morning? For many of us, seeing that our work has a purpose and a meaningful impact at the end of the day is more motivating than a cup of coffee. But other aspects can positively influence your employees’ motivation such as pleasant relationships at work, a healthy work environment, and an opportunity to grow personally and professionally, for example. As a leader, knowing how to motivate a team is essential. It enables you to foster collaboration and engagement with the best talent in your industry. A motivated team is also more resourceful when overcoming challenges and more keen to make the organization thrive. So what is going to help your coworkers get out of bed every morning and inspire them? Here are 12 ways to boost your team’s motivation!

1. Share your vision with your team to boost motivation

What do you like about this new project you are working on with your team? Why does it inspire you? What makes you proud to be part of it? If your team sees that you are inspired and passionate about what you are doing, you are likely to spread this positive feeling. It is fundamental that you share your values and your vision with them. Feeling part of a community that works toward the same goal is a huge motivator. 

2. Learn how to motivate your team by encouraging feedback

Another crucial point is not to assume what motivates your employees without asking them first. For example, it is narrow-minded to believe workers are mainly driven by money. Although this is a key aspect and salaries should reflect the skills and efforts of your team members, it is not always what drives motivation, especially for Millennials and Gen Z. Asking your coworkers for feedback will help you understand what they expect and learn how to motivate them.

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3. Show them gratitude and recognition for their job

At deskbird, we always promote an employee-centric approach because we truly believe that employees are the backbone of an organization. A people-focused management style includes being grateful for the value your team brings to the company and showing recognition for them. Showing your appreciation fosters employee satisfaction and keeps them motivated. If a hardworking team rarely gets rewarded they will start to believe their job is not valued. In turn, motivation starts to vanish. 

4. Focus on your employees’ expectations and well-being

Just like you expect your team to behave in a certain way, they also have some requirements for you and the company. To make a business flourish, efforts are required from both supervisors and workers. Fulfilling your employees’ expectations plays a crucial part in boosting their engagement and motivation. A happy team is usually a motivated team that is ready to face challenges and grow together. To know what they need, the best solution is to get their feedback and then analyze how you can improve.

5. Improve employee motivation by allowing for greater flexibility

Since COVID-19, flexible work has become a norm and is here to stay. Allowing more flexible schedules fulfils the needs of modern workers, improving their work-life balance and their mental health. Do you think this model will be impossible to implement in your company? Do you know all of the different types of flexible work arrangements that exist? The idea of being a flexible organization also means creating a working model based on the needs of your business and your workforce. From hybrid work models to flexitime or four-day workweeks, the options are endless.

6. Provide your team with the right tools and equipment

deskbird’s goal is to provide employees with a modern tool to easily organize their weekly planning and book a desk in the office without creating any scheduling conflicts. Frustrations arise when a company implements a positive change, such as flexible work, but doesn’t provide the right tools to optimize it. Providing the right equipment and workplace technology is essential to maintain your team members’ patience and motivation, and avoid logistics and communication issues.

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👉 How do you manage your workspace with a flexible workforce? Check out our hybrid office calculator to discover how you can optimize the space and save costs!

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7. Spice it up by offering personal and professional growth

We recently discussed employee burnout, but have you heard about boreout? This is a psychological disorder caused by being bored at work. Humans constantly need to learn and improve. Once we master a skill, we want to develop a new one. If workers feel that they can’t grow personally and professionally in their job, they start to lose motivation and become bored even if they used to enjoy the role. Offering learning opportunities and challenging each individual is fundamental to keeping them motivated. 

8. Provide career opportunities

People want to learn new skills and they won’t hesitate to look for another employer who can provide professional growth. Offering career opportunities (vertical and horizontal) is also a way to motivate your team. You need to keep your employees purpose-driven, especially highly skilled team members. If they get bored with their job, they will take their skills elsewhere.

9. Foster workplace connection - especially with hybrid teams

Do you get excited about meeting co-workers you enjoy spending time with? Does having a specific purpose when working on a project make you happy? The same goes for your team and this is why creating workplace connections boosts motivation, especially if your workforce is hybrid. By feeling connected to the company’s culture and values, building strong relationships with colleagues, and being aligned with the company’s mission, workers feel more inspired by and engaged with their job. 

10. Encourage effective and transparent communication

A lack of communication negatively impacts the team in several ways. Frustration arises when employees are not informed of the team’s overall goals and priorities. First, they are unable to prioritize important tasks. Second, they need transparency about the future vision. Adopting efficient communication tools and sharing clear statements with your team is fundamental. Great managers also know how to adapt their communication style to the people in front of them, read the room, and be good listeners.

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👋 Discover how your team can easily find their colleagues and book a desk in their favorite office area thanks to our interactive floor plan feature!

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11. Avoid micromanaging and allow occasional failure

Failing enables your workers to challenge themselves (and grow personally and professionally). This is why leaders should avoid micromanagement. In the long run, micromanaged teams become frustrated and lose motivation. They might wonder: “Why should I keep working for this company if my supervisor doesn’t trust my expertise and controls everything I do?” Taking risks is part of learning and also what gets your employees excited about doing their job. If you remove this element by monitoring every single detail, you deprive them of this key aspect. Frustration and boredom then start to rise. 

12. Learn about the best practices that enhance employee motivation

If you feel that you are implementing all of the recommendations above, you might discover new practices by attending employee motivation training. Moreover, even if you have been in a management position for years, it doesn’t always mean you know it all. Keeping up with trends and employees’ expectations is hard and requires constant learning. For instance, do you know what motivates Gen Z? This type of training enables you to stay up-to-date and define areas of improvement.

We hope this article gives you a better understanding of how to motivate a team and be an inspiring manager. Listening to your workers’ needs, fostering workplace connection, and promoting a people-first leadership style are fundamental aspects to boost employee motivation and morale. At deskbird, we help you keep your workforce motivated by supporting flexible work and employee centricity.

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