by Maria C Collins

Created on: September 21, 2010   Last Updated: April 05, 2011

Many office managers think that motivating workers is difficult. It is not, but it takes some careful thought. It does not always take money to motivate employees, and some ideas that motivate employees cost nothing at all.

Employees like to feel that someone appreciates their work. It costs nothing to compliment a worker, for a job well done. If you compliment the worker in front of other employees, it motivates everyone. When an employee has done something extra-ordinary, or beyond their job description, take a few minutes to write a letter of commendation, to that employee, and place a copy of the letter, with an explanation of the event that occasioning it, on the staff notice board. You will motivate that employee, and everyone else in the office.

Is the office clean and comfortable? A dirty, uncomfortable, workplace lowers morale and saps workers' confidence. Check, periodically, that the cleaners are doing their work correctly, if you have contract cleaners, it may be that their company is not allowing individual cleaners enough time to clean the office properly. If the workplace is clean and comfortable, employees will want to keep it tidy and they will feel comfortable enough, to give of their best..

Desks, printers, photocopiers, etc. may be in the wrongly placed, in relation to one another, thus inconveniencing workers, constantly and providing continual irritation. It is hard to be motivated, if you have to get into uncomfortable, or difficult, positions, to do your work. Look at the office lighting, it may be inadequate, the wrong kind of lighting, or simply in the wrong place, relative to workstations, wrongly placed lighting casts shadows across computer screens not only annoying workers, but also damaging their eyesight.

Communicate effectively with your employees, talk to them, rather than at them, and invite them to talk to you. Listen to their ideas, yes, you will get some silly ones but you will also get some very good ideas from those that do the jobs. Employees like to feel that someone is listening to them. Listening to your workers can also profit you. Employees, who do a job, every day, often have good ideas, about how they could do the job more efficiently, saving the company time and money, by implementing such ideas, not only will you motivate your workers, but it will reflect well on you.

Treat workers respectfully, managers, who give respect, will earn respect. By treating workers respectfully, you will not only motivate them to work harder, but also you will earn their loyalty and they will want to work hard for you. They will also help you out when you need them to stay late and finish a rush job, because they know that you would not ask them to stay late unless it really were necessary.

Set a good example, be passionate and enthusiastic about your job and interested in your work, enthusiasm is infectious.

Motivating employees in an office is not difficult, but it takes thought. It need not cost much money. It is simply a question of thinking about how employees feel, and treating them respectfully and with consideration. Little things make an office a happy place in which to work. Happy workers are productive workers. A small thing like rearranging the furniture, altering the lighting in the workplace, or altering your behaviour towards your employees, can make a great difference, in motivating office workers. Attention to detail, perception, and empathy will help you to make the changes, which will motivate your office workers, and keep them happy and productive.

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