Union Bank of California - Small Business Focus

Keeping Employees Up When the Economy is Down

Here are some tips to help you motivate your staff when times are tough.

The success of your business depends on productive, motivated employees. When the economy is down, keeping your workers motivated can be a challenge, but it’s certainly achievable.

Small businesses often don’t have the resources for financial incentives such as raises or bonuses. Still, employee motivation can take different forms, such as creating an exciting corporate culture or building team spirit. Since all employees are different, you might have to experiment to determine which approach or combination of strategies works best for your business.

Here are some suggestions of how you might be able to boost your employees’ motivation and productivity, despite the struggling economy.

Corporate culture

• Conduct a survey. A simple survey is not only a proven way to boost employee motivation and productivity, but it often leads to increased employee retention as well. To receive honest answers, give your employees total anonymity. To maximize the survey’s accuracy and validity, eschew open-ended questions — the results will be much easier to measure if you focus on straightforward questions.
• Create informal leadership roles. Engage your hardworking employees by giving them a chance to take charge. Let them lead a small project, act as a mentor to new employees or supervise an informal seminar.
• Acknowledge noteworthy efforts. Make a chart or other display that recognizes individual and team accomplishments.

Alternate compensation

• Reward their efforts. Bring in lunch or refreshments for your team after a hectic week to show your personal gratitude. They’ll remember the gesture long after their last bite.
• Give your employees time off. Put specific goals in place and reward your employees with additional time off when all of their goals are met. Consider options such as early dismissals, late starts and half days.

Teamwork

• Arrange office contests. Contests are a great way to get your employees’ competitive juices flowing and reinforce team spirit in the workplace.
• Have fun. Studies show that workers who play together stay together¹. Create camaraderie with company events. Try arranging a softball game to foster a competitive spirit or organize a company barbeque and relax.

As your employees’ motivation grows, so too will their productivity and, ultimately, your business’ ability to thrive.

¹ Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 36, “Making Workplace Fun More Functional,” 2004

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