Why Managers Need to Embrace Employee Motivation

It sounds easy. It sounds simple. It sounds like you’re probably already doing it. I’m sure you are. We all are. Aren’t we?

May 9, 2019
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How would you describe your job to a five year old?
What season would you be?
What is a weird food you have tried? Would you eat it again?
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Would you go in the mother-ship with aliens if they landed on Earth tomorrow?
What is your favorite season?
Do prefer working from home or the office?
What is your earliest memory of this job?
What is the best thing you have bought so far this year?
What is the earliest book you remember?
If you had to move to another country, which one would you choose?
You are the best criminal mastermind in the world. What crime would you commit if you knew you would get away with it?
What is your favorite movie genre to watch?
What was the last thing you ate?
What person from history would you add to Mount Rushmore?
What is a weird fact you know?
What is your favorite part of working from home?
Were the Spice Girls a good team?
Imagine you can instantly learn any language. Which would you choose?
If you could live in any state, which state would you pick?
Which fictional team is the best team of all time?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
What do you usually eat for a quick lunch?
What simple food will you never eat?
Show us the weirdest thing you have in the room with you right now.
Would you rather stay at a hotel or an AirBNB?
What is your favorite movie genre to watch?
Are you more productive in the morning or at night?
Who is someone in your community that makes a difference?
Who was your most unique pet?
Choose one famous person from history you want on your team during a zombie apocalypse.
What is a good way to give back to the community?
Which song could you listen to over and over again?
Is Hugh Grant funny?
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Would you want to have an imaginary friend today? Did you have one as a child?
What actor or actress would you want to play you in the movie about your life?
What is the best super power?
What is your New Years resolution?
You can only eat one food again for the rest of your life. What is it?
What is the best work holiday?
What is the first gift you remember receiving?
Would you rather join Metallica or Backstreet Boys?
What is the best example of a community you have seen?
What is an easy way to do something nice for someone?
Show us your phone background and tell the story behind why you picked this image.
What was your first job?
Pick any band to play at your funeral.
If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
Which superpower would you give to your arch enemy?
What is the most obscure superpower you would want?
What emoji best describes how you are feeling right now?
If you could live in any country, which country would you pick?
Would you rather live in a city or a town?
What is your favorite holiday?
What is something you accomplished as part of a team?
What is your standard office lunch?
What is your most used phone app?
What is your favorite season?
Have you ever won something as a team?
Imagine you are a professional baseball player. What is your introduction song?
Beach holiday or ski trip?
Have you ever been to a funny comedy show?
Would you rather live at the North Pole or the South Pole?
What is your favorite song to sing?
If you could live in any state, which state would you pick?
Imagine you could teleport anywhere. Where would you go right now?
What is the most unusual job you have heard of?
What was the last thing you ate?
You can visit any fictional time or place. Which would you pick?
What do your family and friends think you do all day?
What movie do you wish you could watch again for the first time?
Show us your most-used emoji.
What was the most unique style or fashion trend you ever embraced?
What movie defined your generation?
You are stranded on a remote desert island. Are you alone or with your worst enemy?
What is your favorite knock-knock joke?
Have you ever told someone Santa is not real?
Do you know how to speak more than one language?
On a scale of 1 – 10, how much of a team player are you?
What is your #1 recommendation in this city?
What is your favorite holiday?
What bucket list item do you most want to check off in the next six months?
What is your favorite mythical creature?
What was the first way you made money?
If you could be great at any Olympic sport, which would it be?
Which song could you listen to over and over again?
When did you start liking/hating mushrooms?
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Do you take your PTO all at one time, or another way?
Which show do you remember most from your childhood?
Which beverage goes best with pizza?
Would you want to have a personal assistant follow you around everywhere and do what you asked of them?
Have you ever met your idol?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Would you rather live 100 years in the past or 100 years in the future?
What is your hobby?
When you are alone in the car, what volume is the music at?
Imagine you no longer have to work. How would you spend a Tuesday?
What is your favorite type of sandwich?

It sounds easy. It sounds simple. It sounds like you’re probably already doing it. I’m sure you are. We all are. Aren’t we…?

Let’s talk high level before we go into specifics. According to Gallup employees who are not truly satisfied with the companies work environment and aren’t giving their role the full attention it deserves and needs costing companies between 960 Billion and 1.2 Trillion in the US alone – those figures are staggering.

Whether or not you believe in these astounding numbers, the concept should resonate, motivated employees perform better.

Person looking at the size of a mountain
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy.” — Norman Vincent Peale

Confidence coming from your employees drives better product. Confident employees drive the culture and fill the workspace with a win and fun-filled air. The old model of management is outdated. Sorry, Boomers you can’t just manage anymore, you have to motivate. You have to really take an investment in your employees. What makes them tick. What sparks their curiosity and drive. Their ambitions. That will drive success and in return transform not only the office but the bottom line in an amazing way.

Here are a few common tips for this new world order of motivation:

Discuss employees work contribution and its impact

Employees want to know that if they work incrementally harder that their work is not only appreciated but makes an impact to either the top line or bottom line.

Set goals and celebrate the goals when they achieve them

Millennials are part of the instant gratification generation. They need consistent back patting and if an extra bit of recognition keeps the employee engaged, then that’s exactly what a leader should do.

Don’t keep your employees in the dark, over share with them, follow up with them and recognize them for their hard work.

Often employees like to know why. “What is the goal of this project? What I’m working towards. WHY are we doing it?” Employees want to know company wide/executive goals, financial metrics, proprietary information and what path the company is heading down. Of course, there is a limit to what every employee should know, but knowledge is power, and knowledge is an incredible motivator.

Bottom line is, motivate your employees. Give them what they need to show up day in and day out and be excited about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. See what the results are. Take a step back and make it part of your routine to recognize hard work. If employees aren’t recognized and motivated, how long do you think they are going to stay at your company?

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