How to motivate and retain your employees – common mistakes a manager does

How to motivate and retain your employees – common mistakes a manager does

I was just reading a research paper about how to motivate employees, It was really interesting to read that there is no need of motivating them but have to stop demotivating them, that will help to build a good and long lasting relationship. Most of the times managers and human resource executives discuss about how to motivate and retain their employees but we never see a discussion about what is going wrong. It is so important to analysis the problems within , it actually provides you inputs towards innovative ideas.

We need to discuss following important points

• Why are they working in that organization
• what are their needs besides salary
• What are the common reasons for earlier resignations.
• Why an employee’s enthusiasm drops after 6 months.
• Are they recognized enough.
• How is the relationship  between the peers.
• Are they aware about the importance of their work in the organization

Once we analysis these points we would be getting a clear picture about what should be the course of action to retain employees.  Researches says that following would be the key points which need to be taken care most of the times.

Promote team work
Team work builds an awareness of strength of being a team, it helps to know each other better. It open ups the mind between the peers. Manager need to analysis each of the employees during these team works and assign appropriate goals.

Listen to the problems
As a manager give them chance to talk to you. Listen to their problems and try to find a amicable solution, if a solution is not easy let them know what the exact problem is.

Never give negative comments about organization
As a manager never give any negative comments about the organization , you are not paid for that !! It demotivates your employees to a greater extend

Understand who works and who does not
Spend more time to understand who works and who doesn’t , it is not mandatory that who talks more or act as hard working is really working more. Identify it and action it.

Never sandwich your comments
If you want to say good , say good about it , If you want to say bad , take time and tell them what is going wrong. Many managers feels that telling bad may spoil the relation and try to tell some good points and then mention about the bad part – it is called sandwiching the comments. It will not workout.

Give appropriate criticism
Recognize the employees who does good and bad and give feed back accordingly. They want to know what is going bad.

Be an expediter for your employee
It is your job to facilitate getting their jobs done. Your reports are, in this sense, your “customers.”

Celebrate achievements
Be ready to celebrate each and every achivements. It gives them a ownership feeling.

Myth Number One: “I can motivate people”
It is wrong , you can’t motive people , you can give an enviroment where your employees gets motivated themselves. That is what you need to do.

Tags: Interviews, motivate