17 Impactful Employee Motivation Ideas

Motivation is contagious, both positively and negatively. When an organization is supported by engaged, inspired, and committed individuals, others are likelier to experience this same motivation. A workplace will thrive as colleagues feed off of one another’s motivation.  As the workplace thrives, so will job satisfaction, creativity, and productivity.  

The same spread happens in the opposite direction. If a small group of employees becomes unmotivated, they will be more likely to be unproductive and pessimistic (which leads to regrettable attrition). Their energy will eventually make its way to their colleagues. Their lack of motivation can spread to others through complaining or by causing burnout in the employees who take on extra workload to pick up their slack. 

Because of the impact motivation has on the workplace, it becomes a vital component of an organization’s success. For a workplace to flourish, management must seek ways to motivate employees. Below is a list of the 17 employee motivation ideas to help you propel your employee’s motivation.   

What is Employee Motivation?

According to Inc., Employee Motivation is defined as the “level of energy, commitment, and creativity that a company’s workers bring to their job.”  It is the internal drive and enthusiasm one has for their work, the driving force to take action to accomplish their goals.

Motivated employees take initiative, are eager to take on added responsibilities, and are go-getters. They allow for the work to continue with little encouragement and management.

Ways People are Motivated

Motivating employees requires an understanding of the various ways people are motivated. This understanding will help you categorize employees into the unique way they are motivated. Knowing how to encourage employees will give you the tools to apply motivation techniques tailored to your workplace’s needs. 

Simply put, motivation comes in two forms: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation. 

• Intrinsic motivation: Motivation comes from within. Typically, intrinsic motivation performance is based on an individual’s value system. This type of motivation is influential because it comes from their core. So, as difficulties occur, they will be more likely to work through them because it speaks to their belief system. 

• Extrinsic Motivation: Motivation comes from external factors like rewards, perks, and recognition. An individual who is extrinsically motivated seeks out incentives as a way to encourage them to work harder and complete tasks. Additionally, these external factors can boost learning.

Why Employee Motivation Matters

At the core of any employee’s performance is how much motivation they bring to their day-to-day work. If an organization can access the employee’s drive to do their job, the organization and the individual will benefit. 

However, if employees become disengaged and unmotivated, the company can suffer. Without employees who are enthusiastic about the company’s vision, the company will not reach its full potential.

A study by Dale Carnegie Training found that out of 1,500 employees, 29% are fully engaged, and 26% are disengaged, which means 45% are not fully engaged or productive. Organizations are not reaching their full potential if nearly half of employees disengage. 

Unmotivated employees can lead to reduced performance and, therefore, profitability. They can also lead to a negative workplace culture and unsatisfied customers. In contrast, a motivated employee supplies many benefits. 

The benefits of improved employee motivation are:

• Employee motivation impacts productivity and profitability
• Improved customer service
• Reduced Employee turnover
• Improved engagement and innovation
• Happier employees
• Improved work quality  
• Cultivate a positive work environment
• Create a safe environment
• Seek for customer satisfaction

Employee motivation is the key to unlocking innovation, productivity, and long-term success. 

17 Impactful Employee Motivation Ideas

1. Make a game of the work

Sometimes, some of the best ways to motivate employees, especially certain personality types, is through games. These games can look like: 

• Healthy competition to meet production quotas
• A point system where employees gain points to earn rewards like gift cards
• Profit-Sharing programs

Supplying incentives and rewards to meet specific achievements/goals can motivate employees. However, it is important to note that some personality types will find this gamification of work more of an annoyance than a motivator. To accommodate diverse perspectives, allow for employees to opt out or in.

2. Continually show appreciation and recognize accomplishments

One of the greatest killers of motivation is the feeling of being under-appreciated. To prevent these feelings from developing, ensure that your organization actively participates in recognition and workplace appreciation programs.

Using tools like Kudoboard, employee appreciation programs are a highly effective way to highlight employee achievements, milestones, and outstanding performance. Recognizing the good within the people of the organization will improve:

• Intrinsic motivation
• Job satisfaction
• Morale
• A positive workplace culture. 

3. Develop trust in your employees

While all positions require some element of oversight, the more that a company can demonstrate confidence in its employees, the more they will feel naturally motivated. 

When a company gives employees the space to “fend for themselves,” they will build confidence and will be more likely to stay motivated. Continually nagging only discourages progress and reduces creativity and independence. 

So, instead of dictating their moves, show you have confidence in their abilities and give them opportunities to dictate how and when they complete certain tasks. The more you do this, their morale, job satisfaction, and loyalty will improve. 

4. Provide Flexible Scheduling

84% of working parents find flexibility is the most important factor in a job. Providing flexible work schedules improves an individual’s ability to balance work and life. Therefore, by giving them control over their schedule, you will reduce the burnout caused by the stress of juggling their personal and professional life. 

Additionally, this flexibility demonstrates trust in your team’s ability to manage their responsibilities and can significantly increase job satisfaction. So whether it is offering remote or hybrid options or creating a more flexible in-person schedule, consider finding ways to give individuals more control over their schedule where possible.

5. Respect their time

Never feeling like you can escape from work or your time is not valued is the fastest way to deflate someone’s motivation. Just as flexibility promotes motivation, so does respecting their time. Limit unnecessary meetings and avoid communication outside of work hours. As clear expectations are set for when communication is and is not necessary, you will foster a healthier work-life balance. 

6. Keep open communication

Encourage communication at all levels of the organization by removing barriers that stop employees from communicating with others, especially their leaders.  According to the same Carnegie Training study cited previously, the number one factor in disengagement was the relationship with their immediate supervisor. The more effective way to foster a positive relationship is through communication. 

So, in order to keep communication open, talk with organizational members about struggles, successes, and other workings of the company.  Furthermore, regularly solicit feedback, hold town hall meetings, and create other platforms for transparent communication. 

7. Stay Positive

Work can be hard. Mistakes happen, life happens, and people will annoy us. There is a time and place to communicate about the things that make work difficult. However, it is crucially important that you and your organization foster positivity despite the challenges. 

The best way to encourage enthusiasm is to set an example. Be a positive and uniting person by promoting a unified, tolerant, and accepting workplace. Avoid allowing yourself or colleagues to complain continually. 

When feedback is needed, correct them in private while also giving positive and specific feedback. Doing so will create a workplace environment of positive and motivated individuals.

8. Provide Meaning to Their Work

Every employee needs to fully understand what their contributions bring to the company. Every employee plays a necessary role in the success of the greater company. It is your job to give them that meaning.

Applying meaning to their work can be easily done in the positive feedback they receive from you and their coworkers through workplace recognition programs. A recognition program is the quickest way for an individual to see how their work impacts the organization and its members. 

9. Listen to Employee Feedback 

Listen when employees have something to say about improving their workplace or company. A motivated employee feels valued, and one way to help employees feel valued is by showing that you care about their opinions and perspectives. 

As you conduct employee surveys to gather insights on ways the company can improve, listen and attempt to implement the ideas they present for improving their workplace and company. 

What is more, if the changes they propose cannot be accomplished, take the next step and explain to them why. This action will demonstrate that you listened and valued them enough to explain why their idea cannot happen.  

10. Involve Them in Important Decisions

If the company needs to change something that will affect its employees, the employees should be involved in that decision. Discussing organizational changes will help them feel they have power over their destiny. 

Involving them will allow them to discuss concerns, propose alternative solutions, and prepare themselves for the potential challenges due to the changes. 

11. Follow Through on What You Say

Follow through if you promise a new coffee maker in the break room. If you said employees will receive a bonus at the end of the year, follow through. Trust goes both ways. Just as management needs to trust their employees, the employees need to trust management. 

If they dedicate themselves to continuing to work hard and do not see the promised reward in the end, they will lose motivation to complete their tasks. So be intentional about what you promise and only guarantee things that can definitely happen.  

12. Offer Promotions and Bonuses

One significant way to extrinsically motivate someone is through promotions, bonuses, and perks. These things give individuals something to work towards. Offering a variety of external factors to help encourage a workforce can be a great way to keep up motivation. 

They can also provide opportunities for employees to improve their lives through these incentives. Whether that is to make money to spend on something extra or even a nicer parking space, working towards rewards can boost employee experience. 

13. Provide Services

To go along with promotions and benefits is to provide services. These services can come in various forms, but all aim to take something off their plate or enhance their health. Some services you could offer are: 

• A personal trainer or gym 
• Personal accountant for taxes
• Money for lunch
• Onsite childcare

14. Pay well

While not the sole motivator, financial compensation is a major reason for someone to complete their work. Workers who feel underpaid will find little reason to go above and beyond. Additionally, if they are under-compensated, they will be more likely to seek other employment.

In order to guarantee the workplace continues to perform and to avoid costs associated with employee turnover, pay a competitive rate.

15. Incorporate Families

For many, their family plays a significant role in their life, and their family is what motivates them to make a living. Incorporating their family is a great way to show understanding and care for someone. 

Whether it is a biological family, a chosen family, or their fur family, find ways to involve them in the company. Involving the family can be done by: 

• Hosting a “Bring Your Child to Work” day
• Let them bring pets to work
• Host company events that include families

16. Promote Friendships Among Colleagues

When looking at various employee retention models, most agree that building positive colleague connections is vital to keeping employees.  The more employees feel embedded into the social atmosphere, the more they feel connected to the organization. 

To promote friendships amongst coworkers, regularly use team-building activities. These team-building exercises can help unify teams, help employees socialize, and find connections among people they may not have interacted with. 

Another way to promote friendships in your workplace is by celebrating together. Find things to celebrate, like holidays, personal milestones, events, or goal achievements. Whether the celebration is through a group greeting card to honor a birthday or hosting a retirement party, celebrating together brings joy into the daily grind of the work week. 

17. Provide growth opportunities

Invest in the learning of your employees. Learning new skills can be a motivational jumpstart and can inspire them to try something new or become a better version of themselves. When someone feels stuck and unable to progress, they will become burnt out and unmotivated. 

By encouraging employees to attend training or follow promotion tracks, you invest in improved leadership and career skills that will keep employees motivated while improving work quality. 

Conclusion

Employee motivation is crucial for an organization to thrive. However, motivating employees can be difficult. It requires tailoring strategies to the unique needs of your organization and workforce. By understanding what motivates your employees and implementing a combination of the 17 employee motivation ideas listed above, you can create a workplace where individuals are inspired—a workplace where they are eager to engage and contribute to the greater success of the organization.