I am a fairly laid back personality who takes work very seriously - goof off on my own time but when it comes to the job, let's get it done and no screwing around. I motivate myself to do the best that I can because I do not like NOT doing my best, but I understand that is just me and do not expect others to follow or often even notice that kind of action. However, that said, the group that I work for right now is by far the best group of motivators I have ever worked with/for and they (as a group, not necessarily the company, per se) will have my undying loyalty and motivation for a long time.
During the course of the last year, I have been provided with unstinting support on the application that I have been working on, no outside interference and plenty of help when I have needed it. Due to a family crisis during this time, I was also given flex-time and time off when needed to take care of the family issues. Additionally, there has been no lack of encouragement and support when needed (and I have never said anything to prompt such actions).
When my project went live into production last week (and I was sick on top and had to leave early that day), my immediate boss stayed late that night to ensure there were no outstanding issues (he's been the only other person working on the application with me). Then, to show their thanks for my/our work, they left balloons and a banner congratulating us on the application going into production. A small token of appreciation that doesn't mean much in the big scheme of things, but never has someone done something like that for me just for doing my job! And to top it off, while the company has forbidden bonuses this year, my boss gave me a small bonus from his own personal funds! In an era where finding a job, let alone a good job, is so difficult, I feel extraordinarily blessed and lucky to find a job where I am constantly motivated to do my best not only by my own personal standards but by the people I work with/for!
In summary, motivate your staff by:
- caring about them personally
- allowing them flexibility to manage both home and work life
- offering small bits of encouragement along the way
- supporting them when conflicts come up
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"If you can't explain something to a six-year-old, you really don't understand it yourself."
-- Albert Einstein