To get everyone off to a good start in the new year, it’s crucial to keep your staff motivated. Urge everyone to take advantage of the Christmas season to spend time with loved ones, unwind, and prepare for the new year. When people return to work, as a leader, you should set aside time in the first two weeks of the year to learn about each team member’s personal and professional objectives. Below are suggestions on how managers and company owners can motivate their staff to be productive and happy from the start of a new year.
People often want a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves and a sense of alignment with the goals of their organizations. After establishing core values, it is essential to stick to them. Reaffirm business goals and ensure that all team members share the vision for the future. Understanding your purpose can help new and seasoned team members, and it will unite everyone’s efforts toward your long-term objective.
Motivate with Truthful Criticism
Maintaining a happy workplace is crucial for keeping your staff engaged, but it has to balance compliments and direct criticism. Too much complimentary feedback becomes white noise and can hurt performance. Excessively high levels of praise can cause practice habits to decline because workers’ perceptions of their performance become skewed and, consequently, lower the proactive production of labor.
Instead of continuously celebrating employee achievements at the same level of enthusiasm, find strategies to promote optimism while handing out constructive criticism. Meet with staff at the beginning of the year to discuss their accomplishments, aspirations, and potential areas for growth and professional development. It will be easier for you to achieve peak production levels and keep your staff motivated throughout the year if you review this at the beginning of each quarter.
Personally Celebrate Wins
All year long, there are several occasions to salute and recognize your team’s accomplishments. Handwritten notes and personal phone calls offer a rare display of authenticity and respect in an era of digital efficiency. Acknowledge people with value words like “thank you” and “congratulations” to show that you recognize their worth. Send a personal, customized gesture in place of a generic, templated email. Little gestures of thanks go a long way in motivating and expressing gratitude for effort.
Support Professional Growth
Most people, post-pandemic, have re-assessed their priorities. As such, job hunters are exploring companies invested in personal and professional development. Employee development is one of the most crucial elements of a successful and healthy firm. Investing in staff development boosts employee retention and loyalty while also increasing creativity and productivity at work. Companies can attract and hold onto talent, keeping them competitive.