There is no secret that every person is motivated in different ways. With 100 employees, you will have 100 different ways to motivate them. Since managers have far more to do than develop 100 different methods to motivate each employee, some fall back to the standard two things:
- More pay (not always logical or even possible)
- Give a sweeping “you guys are great” or “Atta boy” to the group
The problem is neither is actually motivating. The pay (while it is nice) has a short term benefit for motivation (if any), then it becomes viewed as part of the entitlement for the exchange of work. The sweeping statements are nice, but often seem empty.
The 5 Love Languages is a popular message for couples, but there are also 5 Languages of Appreciation.
Instead of developing 100 different motivational methods or avoiding it all together, you can focus on five simple methods. Each person will have their preferred methods, but you should be able to discover what works best for each person:
- Words of affirmation (specific, focused appreciation)
- Tangible gifts (low cost, but effective gifts – WishWish can help here)
- Acts of service (physically help them with something that is a challenge)
- Quality time (personal and focused on that person)
- Physical touch (a hearty handshake for a job well done, or a high five for figuring something out)
Have you discovered how to best motivate your team? Share your ideas in the comments.
