WANT TO KEEP YOUR EMPLOYEES MOTIVATED AND ENTHUSIASTIC?
You believe in your company wholeheartedly. There’s an entrepreneurial fire burning strong inside that motivates you to work harder each day. Unfortunately, the same cannot always be said about your employees. If you’ve tried a variety of incentives but are still seeing the negative side effects of low motivation, you’re not alone. Sometimes even the best managers have to think outside the box to find creative and reliable ways to motivate their employees.Here are 13 unique motivational techniques from other entrepreneurs that you can try with your employees:
1) Make your business a pleasant place to be.
No one wants to stand around in a dingy, boring space for hours on end. Having an aesthetically pleasing, well-lit, functional and fun space makes work a lot more pleasant.The first step is to make sure things are well-kept and that you have updated, working equipment. It means keeping things clean and nice looking. Sprucing up your space doesn’t have to be expensive. All these little touches will make things a lot more enjoyable for your employees (and by proxy, your customers).
2) Be a respectful, honest & supportive manager.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but bad management is one of the top reasons employees run for the hills. Things like respect, honesty, support and clear communication are the foundations here. But there’s a lot more you can do to be a great leader and mentor. If you’re new to this whole management thing, it’s worth reading some books on the subject — effective management, like any other skill, takes knowledge and practice. As a starting point, check out Amazon’s best-sellers on management, or check out the employee management section of Square’s blog. The long and short of it: if you’re a good person to work for, your employees will be more loyal.
3) Offer employee rewards.
People will stay with your business if they have a reason to. So, if you want to keep your good people and keep them motivated, it’s worth starting an incentive program. Maybe it’s a quarterly bonus. Maybe it’s private healthcare. Maybe it’s offering to foot the bill for additional credentials. Or maybe it’s even profit-sharing in your company. If people know they’ll be rewarded for a job well done, they’ll be 1) more likely to do a good job, and 2) stay to see things through.
4) Give them room to grow.
Especially if your business is rapidly expanding, giving your employees room to grow within the company is a huge motivator. There’s the dangling carrot of more money, yes, but there’s also the psychological factor of feeling like they’re trusted and respected for their work. If you’re opening a second location, think about which of your employees might be a good fit for a management role there. If there’s someone who’s doing a particularly good job with inventory, consider grooming that person to take over vendor relations completely. When you give your best employees growth opportunities, it shifts their thinking from “this is just a side job” to “this could be a full-fledged career.
5) Share positive feedback.
It’s great to feel fulfilled by your work. In fact, it’s one of the key job satisfaction factors. Satisfaction in your work can come from a variety of places — from knowing you made the perfect cup of coffee to saving the day of a mother by giving their child a haircut that doesn’t end in tears. And if your customers express appreciation for these things, be sure to share that feedback with your employees. Letting your employees know they made someone’s day makes them feel good — and gives them a deeper connection to your business.
6) Offer flexible scheduling.
Technology has changed the way businesses operate, and it has also changed the way we work–or the way we can work. If employees are able (and expected) to check work emails on their phones or finish projects on their laptops at home, it’s reasonable for them to want a similar flexibility from their employers when it comes to scheduling. And they do. In a Forbes study, 46% of respondents said that flexibility is the most important factor when it comes to job searching. And employers are paying attention: 86% of companies on Forbes 2014 “Best Companies to Work For” offered some type of flexible schedule. So, whether it’s a work-from-home opportunity or flexi time, offer various scheduling options if you want to be viewed as a progressive employer and attract top talent.
7) Offer food in the workplace.
Are good snacks the key to employee retention? Maybe. After all, nobody works well when they’re hungry. It seems so simple, but sometimes all you have to do to make people happy is to feed them. Obviously, it’s not that simple–employees also have to be reasonably satisfied with their jobs. Yet food does make an undeniable difference. In fact, a survey by Seamless found that 57% of employees say food-based perks would make them feel more valued and appreciated. It makes sense: When your employer pays attention to your physical needs, you get the impression that they care about you as a person–not just what you can do for the company. In the same survey, 38% said food perks would make them more likely to endorse their employer in a “best places to work for” survey, so not only will decent snacks help you keep your employees, it can also help you attract great new talent.
8) Recognise their achievements.
Sometimes all people want is some recognition for a job well done. If an employee has been putting in a lot of time working on a project, or they went out of their way to help out a colleague, do not hesitate to praise them. It’s not just about the act of recognition, but the principle: If people feel that their efforts are appreciated, they will feel compelled to continue working hard. Employees whose achievements were recognised also have reported that they experience higher levels of enjoyment out of the work they do. But if they feel like their long hours and personal sacrifices were for naught, it’s unlikely that they will go out of their way for the company again. So, whether it’s noting their contributions in a meeting, recognising them in a staff email or just thanking them privately, it’s imperative that you show hardworking employees your gratitude.Having great employees who’ve been at your company for a while is a huge plus. Keeping employees motivated, especially during tough times is an important part of your business’ success. Long-time employees know the ins and outs of things, and they also make running your business a lot more enjoyable.
9) Ask them what they want.
Instead of trying guess what’s most important to them, actually sit down with them and find out what they value. Doing the unexpected might be the best thing you can do for your employees, and your company.
10) Let Them Know You Trust Them
If you let them know you trust and depend on them, they will fill those shoes sooner than you think. A vote of confidence can go a long way. Let them know you trust them to do the best job possible and they will rarely disappoint you. Try it. —Ayelet Noff, Blonde 2.0
11) Set Smaller Weekly Goals
You want lofty ambitions, but set up smaller goals along the way to keep people in it. Rather than make a billion this year, focus on getting 100 new customers this week-something that will get you to that billion. Then reward the team for achieving the goal with an afternoon off, a party, etc. They will see that your goals are realistic and everyone benefits from working hard.–Nicolas Gremion, Free-eBooks.net
12) Radiate Positivity
I’m always pumping energy through the office. I’m really enthusiastic and want my staff to feed off that positive energy. Because culture is so important to me, I play music, have fun, joke around, and play games. We work hard, but we play hard too. You have to be in the moment and high-energy all the time! –Josh York, GYMGUYZ
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Lebo
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Definitely Recommend Their Service
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5 Years With Ad-dictions, Refreshing Client & Service-Oriented
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Gary Smith
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Caroline M
Very Professional… My Leads Have Doubled
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Mike Russell
I Am Truly Grateful For The Time & Effort Put Into My NPO Account
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Santash (Tics)
Ad-dictions Online Marketing Helped Our 2 Businesses To Grow
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Naomi
Really Happy With The Service From Kim and Her Team
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Stefan
Very Happy With Level of Service & Professionalism from Ad-dictions
We have used Ad-dictions to run our Google Ads Campaigns for some time and have always been very happy with the level of service and professionalism. We have seen positive results from our campaign as it is managed personally. The staff are responsive and attentive to our needs as a school and understand the market. They will often give sound advice and suggestions as to how our marketing could be more effective. Great company!
Stewart
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Shane
Kimberley Has Transformed Our Business In 3 Months
Kimberley and her team have transformed our business in just 3 months. We are so busy now that we can barely keep up with the work load. Thank you for your great service and getting us the leads that you said you will get.
Keagan
I Was So Impressed With My Logo
I was so impressed with the logo Kim designed for us! She’s also been so quick to update our page and suggesting things we can do to grow our new business. Not sure we would have been as successful without her help.
Candice
Great Service & Generating Good Leads
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Ruann
Awesome Company, Great Service!
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Laki
Thank You For Helping My Company Grow
Thank you Kimberley and Team great service and for helping my company grow.
Sharon
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Eve
Benefits Are Really Noticeable & Traceable
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Seagram
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Tina
Incredible Job With My Website
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Kerrisha
Dealing With Ad-dictions Has Been Pleasure
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Dewald
Great Work & Fantastic Service
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Gao
Grew My Web Traffic By 458% In Under A Week
Fantastic! Grew my web traffic by 458% in under a week! Also, the leads actually resulted in business, unlike many other forms of advertising.
Matthew
Thanks For The Hard Work
Thanks for the hard work and staying on top of things for us!
Judy
Great Company To Deal With
Great company to deal with. Quick and responsive. Professional.
Grant
We Cannot Keep Up With All The Enquiries
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Bryce
Absolutely Wonderful Service
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Tebogo
Regular Stream of Industry-Specific Leads
I was using Google AdWords but was not getting a good response. I contacted Ad-dictions and they fully analyzed my needs. From daily monitoring of the traffic on my site, to refining the words used on AdWords, tweaking my website, optimizing my monthly spend. The list goes on and on. The results have been really great. I now get a regular stream of industry-specific leads that invariably turn into accepted quotes. Thank you.
Mark
Excellent Service – Recommend Them With Confidence
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Carlene/Shane
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Harris
Always Willing To Walk The Extra Mile
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Jan
Ad-dictions Gets The Job Done Fast & Efficiently Without Breaking The Bank
Dealing with Ad-dictions has only been a pleasure thus far. The owner, Kimberley Nel, has a keen eye for what works and what doesn’t and she and her associates get the job done fast and efficiently without breaking the bank. I have seen a change in people’s response to my company since she helped me to upgrade my company image and I hope to continue making use of her services in future.
Dewald
Can’t Recommend Them Enough
Kimberley and her team have been doing my Google AdWords for around 2 years now and I would be completely lost without her. She is efficient and really understands her client’s individual needs. She is an asset to my business. I can’t recommend them enough.
Ruth
Honest & Number One in Online Marketing
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Naomi
Fast & Efficient Service From Ad-dictions
Fast and efficient service been such a boost to our company to use Ad-dictions.
Jenny
Outstanding Service
A very professional that provide service quality that is outstanding. Always place the customer’s needs first. Looking well after my companies needs. Well done Kimberley!!
Nollie
Professional Excellent Service
Professional, excellent service, by far the best online marketing business in SA. Thank you Ad-dictions for a great service.
Caroline
Extremely Impressed With Ad-dictions
I was doubtful that this type of marketing could work for our business. I have to say that I am extremely impressed with Ad-dictions work!
Jessica
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Denton
Great Marketing Strategies!
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Nathan
Ad-dictions Is On Top Of Their Game!
What a great team to work with. On top of their game!
Craig
Generated New Clients From Google From Day 1
Ad-dictions has got our accounting company off to a great start! With a reasonable budget they have generated us clients from Google from day one. We look forward to growing our company with Kimberley and her team.
Timothy
Ad-dictions Has Added Value To My Marketing. Efficient Service.
Ad-dictions (Kimberley) and her team have improved my business and have added value to my marketing. I applaud their efficient service and professional advise. Thank you!
Yael
The Leads Actually Resulted In Business From Google Advertising
Fantastic! Grew my web traffic by 458% in under a week! Also, the leads actually resulted in business, unlike many other forms of advertising.
Matthew
Faultless Customer Service & Influx of New Leads
Kimberley and the Ad-dictions team have been faultless in their customer service and support – the influx of new leads to both websites in our first month has been amazing, and their help with my website layout has also given me a newfound confidence in my market! Thank you so much.
Jason
Make Your Budget Back In Revenue Within The First Week
We can highly recommend Kim and her team. Ad-dictions is a professional and trustworthy marketing agency, who has helped us to build and grow our business over the past two years. Anybody considering running an online marketing campaign through Ad-dictions won’t be sorry! You will make your budget back in revenue within the first week of the month, at least that’s how well it works for us!
Update 3 Years Later: I started running my Google Ad campaigns through Ad-dictions just over 3 years ago. At that time I had never done Google Ads for my business before. The budget at the time was only R2000.00. Very quickly I saw results for my advertising spent. Within the first week of the month I would make back in revenue what I had spent on Ads. This helped my business to grow over the years to the point where we now have already moved to our second, bigger offices, instead of working out of our home’s garage and we are a leader in the industry. In addition, we have grown so much that we have recently brought digital marketing in-house (Google Ads, Social Media, etc). Although, this meant that we would sadly no longer work with Kimberley and Ad-dictions.
I would highly recommend Ad-dictions to anyone out there who is looking to grow their business or looking to change to an Ad company with integrity, who will truly give them value for their money. Kimberley and her team are very trustworthy, with industry know-how and will give you “bang for your bug”!
Saskia
We Highly Recommend Ad-dictions
I have been working with Ad-dictions since 2013. I find Kim to be professional and very knowledgeable on the social media front. I have seen improvement in my brand awareness since Kim has taken charge of my campaigns and highly recommend her company, her input and her service.
Update approx 5 years later: We have only been happy with the advice and service we have received and highly recommend @ad_dictions_marketing_sa to assist with your Google advertising!
Mari
They generate results above and beyond expectations
We have been using the service of Ad-dictions Online Marketing for almost a year. Kimberley’s Google AdWords management skills have become an essential factor contributing to the growth of our business. I highly recommend Ad-dictions without any reservation. Kimberley provides a professional and efficient campaign management service, is a pleasure to deal with and generates results above and beyond expectations.
Craig
Top Notch Service and Lead Generation
Top notch service and lead generation! I’m very happy!
Brendon
I Feel I Have Found the Perfect AdWords Professional
Kim, I think you are gifted. A true professional. I am happy. I have had a long journey. I feel I have found the perfect professional. Thank you again!!
Michelle
I would recommend you to engage with Ad-dictions if you are serious about your brand!
Kimberley has a very high degree of understanding the dynamics that would project your brand to a significantly higher level of exposure. The attention to detail and the most recent analysis provided reflects a superior degree of professionalism. I would recommend you to engage with Ad-dictions if you are serious about your brand!
Andre
Kimberley Knows What She’s Doing. I Highly Recommend Her Service
Kimberley really knows what she is doing and works well behind the scenes for my business. She uses good judgment and is adaptable. I highly recommend her Google AdWords and web design service.
Justin
Efficient, Caring and Proficient Support
The team at Ad-dictions have been assisting me with the marketing of my courses since April 2016. The results have been amazing. I have been in both the business and professional worlds since 1976, and am unable to recall ever having received such efficient, caring and proficient support from a service provider. I highly recommend Ad-dictions’ Google AdWords services!
Buster
Thank you for transforming our business!
Hi Kimberley, this is just a quick email to say thank you for transforming our business! Since you stepped on board, you are keeping all our staff very busy. I will definitely recommend you to all my friends, and business associates – I do believe that every person with a website will benefit from using your AdWords Service. Thank you!
Theresa
Our business has drastically improved
Our business has drastically improved with Kimberley’s assistance using Google AdWords. We have stopped the majority of our other advertising methods due to being so busy – thanks to Google AdWords. We have even had to pause our Google Ads due to being so busy! It really has turned our business (and marketing) around completely. We would not hesitate to recommend Kimberley to anyone and everyone wanting to improve their business!
Kurt
Cannot cope with the number of clients calling in.
My business grew from 2 to clients a day to 8 clients a day in the first week due to running Google AdWords with Ad-dictions. We are now fully booked from Monday to Sunday and cannot cope with the number of clients calling in. Thanks Kimberley for the great work that you put in. I am now busy with big plans of expanding my business.
Kenny
I’ve made profit every month with AdWords!
Kimberley, you are a champ!!!! Thank you for all your hard work and effort into my little campaign. I’ve made profit every month with AdWords!!!!!!
Chad
AdWords is so essential to any business!
Kimberley! You are amazing thank you so much! Can’t even believe how businesses have been running without it! You must have an amazing business, I really think AdWords is so essential to any business!
Bianca
The responses just keep rolling in
Squeaky Clean, window cleaning services is absolutely Addicted, as the responses just keep rolling in through Addictions great on line marketing, and attention to detail!
Alf
Absolutely super awesome and amazing!
Just want to say the adwords campaign you created for me is: Absolutely super awesome and amazing! Thank you so much! You really made my campaign work!!
Lyle
Pleasure to do business with someone that knows what they are doing
I see we are live and just wanted to compliment your work. It has been a pleasure to do business with someone that knows what they are doing. Thank you, much appreciated.
Harry
I am now booked until the end of the year.
I am so pleased with the work that I have had from my website that I am now booked until the end of the year.
Sheila
The web activity is keeping me pretty busy!
Truth be told, the web activity is keeping me pretty busy! You’ve done an awesome job.
Johan
Thank you for transforming our business!
This is just a quick email to say thank you for transforming our business! Since you stepped on board, you are keeping all our staff very busy. I will definitely recommend you to all my friends, and business associates – I do believe that every person with a website will benefit from using your Ad word Service. Thank you!
Theresa
Wow.. AdWords Really Works
As a small accounting business, there was very little that could be done on advertising our business. We tried flyers, advertisements in newspapers and all the normal routes but for a professional service related business, these did not work at all. We read about Google advertising and I registered my own campaign, trying to do this myself. I lost a lot of money! I can gladly refer anyone to Kimberley from Ad-dictions. She has been a great help! From the start I realised that something was happening out there. People contacted me online or by phone and said they got our details online! Wow.. Really works for our business to be out there. Thank you Ad-dictions.. You guys rock!