Your ability (or inability) to motivate your staff will be reflected in the quality of their work, morale, and cooperation. By just focusing on just a few things, you can change the temperament of your workplace and ensure a happy and motivated staff.
1. Be positive. Lead by example. This can be done by demonstrating a good attitude that naturally accompanies a positive outlook. If you don’t have that, chances are your employees are simply reflecting what they see in you.
2. Permit others to do their jobs. Because you’re invested in your business’s success, it’s tempting to look over shoulders and micromanage your employees. However, as a manager, you can best promote success by enabling your team to succeed. This means that rather than telling them how to do their job (which you might occasionally have to do), you ensure they have access to all the necessary tools and training to excel.
3. Provide vision and support. Good managers inspire success with clear vision. It’s your job to look to the future and envision positive changes within your practice. Once you’ve shared this vision, you need to provide your team with the necessary support to move forward.
4. Practice good communication. Without good communication skills, you’ll find it difficult to lead your team anywhere, because without clear direction they won’t know where to go. You must clearly communicate your vision, your objectives, and your expectations. But if you’re doing all the talking, your team will quickly tune out. Communication runs both ways; you must listen and engage in productive discussions as well.
5. Give positive reinforcement and feedback. Nothing is more discouraging to an employee than lack of feedback. In order to better direct their efforts, they need to know whether or not they’re satisfying your expectations. Be sure you always provide positive feedback first. Then give constructive criticism by sharing how they can improve their efforts. Be specific. Vague and ambiguous feedback is almost worse than no feedback at all.
6. Be an advocate. As your employees interact with clients, it’s important that you be their advocate. Sometimes clients may complain about their exchanges with your employees, and quite honestly, there may come a time when an employee must be reprimanded for poor work and/or behavior. However, most of the time you should not only support but endorse your employees, making it clear that as long as they’re performing to the best of their ability, you’ve got their back.
7. Provide group training. Like a retreat, group training can motivate and inspire your employees while teaching them valuable skills. Imagine teaching each employee how he or she can become your business’s profit expert. Universal Accounting Center has developed a proven program to help non-accounting employees understand their function and importance in the business model. With Universal’s proprietary training, each employee will understand how critical their position is to the business. They will improve their skills in performing important responsibilities that will greatly benefit the company’s profitability. Call 1-877-833-7909 today for more information on how Universal can immediately help your company today.
Good management is often more motivational than even the cheesiest quotes or promotional plaques. As you show a genuine interest in your employees’ work experience at your practice, you’ll find their loyalty, commitment and performance improves.
