Simple Actions that Build Employee Motivation

Thoughtfully motivating employees requires focused energy and a diverse set of motivational strategies and tools. There are also simple activities that can support employee motivation. Employee motivation is not a static state – it must be continuously renewed and refreshed. Employee motivation takes sustained commitment and strategic investment.  

How to Measure Employee Motivation 

Survey 1: Defining Employee Engagement

To build employee engagement, it is important to know how your employees define it. In this survey, ask individuals or a team to:

• Define employee engagement
• List 10 activities that contribute to positive employee engagement
• List 5 recent examples where you saw someone support employee engagement on this team

You can either review individual responses for engagement ideas, or have the team compare lists and develop a consensus list that can shape engagement activities moving forward. Ultimately, the outcome of this exercise is a list of most commonly cited engagement activities, and action plan to make sure that they are either implemented or continued in the team or organization. The list of examples may also form the basis for a recognition program to acknowledge the people who took actions that engaged others.

Survey 2: SWOT Analysis

Often used as a strategic planning tool, a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) can also be used to survey employee engagement. Ask a team to brainstorm responses to the following questions:

• Strengths: What is our team/organization doing well when it comes to employee engagement?
• Weaknesses: What employee engagement elements could we improve on?
• Opportunities: What could we do to meaningfully increase employee engagement?
• Threats: What do we risk by not actively engaging employees?
• Action Planning: What actions should we take based on responses to the questions above?

Like the first survey, these questions can be asked at an individual level, or can be done at a team level. The benefit of individual responses is that it may provide more candid feedback. The benefits of a team response is that it helps build team culture and transparency. You may also do this in two parts – collect individual responses and consolidate them for a team ranking and action planning session.

How to Shape Employee Motivation 

It’s hard to measure employee motivation in the workplace. Different people are motivated by different things at different times. Given this changeability, how do we create a motivational strategy that will benefit the entire organization?

A psychological tool called Reversal Theory can help. This theory provides a list of eight motivational states that managers can use to understand and shape employee motivation. Here’s a summary:

• Serious State: Motivated by achieving important goals and outcomes.
• Playful State: Motivated by having fun with interesting work and enjoying the process.
• Conforming State: Motivated by doing things the right way, at a high level of quality using clear standards.
• Rebellious State: Motivated by finding new ways to do things, to think differently
• Mastery State: Motivated by gaining knowledge, strength or power, for yourself or to build up someone else
• Sympathy State: Motivated by caring and showing compassion, either for yourself or someone else.
• Other State: Motivated by serving others – customers, colleagues or the greater good — and by being part of a larger team or organization
• Self State: Motivated by development, improving or taking care of yourself

Motivation Tips for Supervisors 

Employees are a vital component to company success. While other factors influence organizational gains, your workforce is a sustainable entity that maximizes productivity and progress.

Tip #1. Treat your employees like your customers

Make engagement a top priority for managers. The supervisor-employee relationship strongly influences an employee’s perceived value to the company. Ask those who closely interact with employees to see if they are engaged. Instill a message of approachability among employees in relation to their immediate supervisor, and get feedback and essential input. 

Tip #2. Get employees involved in your community outreach

Individuals have different motivations. What inspires one employee may not register with another. Your company mission is another opportunity to reach out. Individuals working with purpose tend to be more engaged. If your organization lists community outreach and charity among its values, then get your employees involved.

Tip #3. Become your own case study

Examine what keeps your engaged employees interested and work to replicate those successes. You can’t force enthusiasm or passion, but you can promote your strengths.

Tip# 4. Show, don’t tell!

Display your investment in the company and pride for working toward the company’s purpose. Showcase your dedication and belief in the same mission and organizational goals that your employees are subject to. Express a positive attitude with your direct reports and watch the ripple effect spread throughout your workforce!

Learn More on How to Build Employee Motivation and Foster Success

Creating a motivationally rich environment means talking about all the different motivational states. A diverse motivational toolkit is the best strategy for building motivation in the workplace. Pryor’s seminars, webinars, and on-site courses can help further your organization's goal with a variety of resources that can be used throughout your managerial career, such as Style and Strategies to Supervise Effectively, Leadership Skills, and How to Manage Remote Employees.