Guide to Putting Some Spirit Into Your Staff

Four fail-proof steps to motivate your employees

By Candis Hidalgo

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I don't know where I heard the saying, but it has rung true in all of my work (and life) experiences to date: "You attract more bees with honey than with lemon". In short, people need encouragement and positive reinforcement to succeed (or even to want to succeed). With that concept in mind, let's take a look at four fail-proof ways to stimulate your staff and get them motivated:

Action Steps
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Praise Them!

Some of us have such a hard time delivering a simple compliment, but alas, it must be done!

I recommend: People who feel like their efforts go unnoticed and unappreciated will be less likely to perform as well in the future. Without praise and recognition, people lose motivation as well as a sense of purpose. So here's what you do: Make a concious effort to thank or compliment at least one employee every day. In doing so, you'll almost certainly also encounter the beneficial side effect of a marked boost in the overall morale at your workplace.

Set Goals!

People like to feel as though they've acheived something at the end of the day, week, or year.

I recommend: Think back to when you scored that basket, aced that test, or cooked that first real meal. It made you feel proud, even motivated, right? In order for this to happen in the workplace, clear and reachable goals need to be established and communicated for each employee or team. So here's what you do: Develop goals, set a realistic time frame for completion, then evaluate current goals and set new ones. This process should be an ongoing part of your business.

Get Competitive!

This one takes goal-setting to the next level because it makes it social.

I recommend: Now, not all people are competitive by nature, and some won't want to "play". However, you may be missing out on inspiring major productivity in many of your staff who are competitive. So here's what you do: Create a contest at work that appeals to that competitive spirit, and the more public, the better. This one also has a beneficial side effect: making work fun. Who would've thunk it?

Be Positive!

How effective do you think it is when teachers who smoke tell their students not to smoke?

I recommend: It's not! This is because when you say something but do the exact opposite, people don't respect or listen to what you have to say. So if you want motivated employees, get motivated yourself first! So here's what you do: Come into work with a smile, say hello to your staff and use their name, encourage them, and overall, just be positive! You'll be amazed at what a huge effect such little effort will produce.

Try these Four Steps and let me know about your results!

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

Write these four steps down or commit them to memory (c'mon, it's only 4 things).
The next time you go into work, use them and teach them. In fact, teach others to use them and teach them. Then you'll really start to see a difference!
If you don't try, you won't succeed, or more eloquenlty put, by Anthony Robbins: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten."

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