Quick Ways To Motivate Staff

From a night out with the team to providing the latest tech, check out these tips from SME bosses for keeping employees happy and productive

By their very nature, SMEs are more likely to have a close-knit staff than larger rivals. But that does not stop staff performance slumping when the necessary TLC is absent or work seems like a slog.

A happy staff drives both output and staff retention, so these quick-fix motivational tips from SME bosses should help if you feel that your staff are ailing, or they just need that extra push to reach a seasonal target.

1) Try An Upgrade
Francesco Cetraro, head of registry operations for .cloud at Aruba.it believes that an occasional small bump in airline seating or train travel can deliver a larger hike in performance. “Sometimes the difference in price between economy and premium economy is minimal, but the extra comfort can make all the difference,” he says.

“Give staff the option to travel the day before a meeting, rather than forcing them to take the red-eye flight. The extra hotel cost can be offset against a refreshed and alert employee closing that important deal.

"Offer a degree of flexibility when booking, and you will tend to have happier, more productive employees.

"Travel can be essential to acquire new customers and support existing ones, but employees aren’t cargo.”

2) Give Them A Go
Trusting young staff with challenging tasks is a method that The Longest Stay's CEO Sherry Roberts likes to use to motivate team members.

The home accessories curation website’s founder believes that thinking big can inspire staff and make them aim higher. “We have a young team and I like to expose them to as much of the business as I can,” she says.

A spontaneous night out is an obvious one, but a few free drinks after work reminds people they have a good team around them
“But what really works is to challenge them as much as you can, so I might ask someone how they would redo the entire mobile app from scratch or to redesign the website.

"Working on massive ideas keeps them stimulated, even if they don't have the training for that particular task.”

3) Never Underestimate The Free Drink
“A spontaneous night out is an obvious one, but a few free drinks after work reminds people they have a good team around them," says Rob Ingram, director at barware and kitchenware distributor Root7.

“I am always surprised at how many SMEs don’t go for a drink together. There is no need to talk work unless people really want to do that.”

4) Create Friendly Rivalry
Steven Macatonia, who is co-founder at Union Hand-Roasted Coffee, believes that fun with a side order of internal competition can help to motivate when bringing employees together.

“We host regular events at our on-site roastery in east London to bring our customers, partners and staff together for a fun evening of knowledge sharing and ideas exchange,” he says.

Handing staff up-to-date tech will make them feel good, as well as doing away with the frustrations of slow connections or outmoded apps
“Baristas from the cafes and restaurants that serve our coffee can test out the latest equipment, with latte art competitions inciting friendly rivalry as well as inspiring creativity among team members.

"Hosting everyone together in this relaxed setting is a great way to gain a greater understanding of where the business is currently and the direction we and our staff collectively want to take it in.”

5) Upgrade Tech For Upgraded Performance
Chef-made food delivery business CEO Rahul Parekh believes that handing staff up-to-date tech will make them feel good, as well as doing away with the frustrations of slow connections or outmoded apps.

He believes this can also give his online business a competitive edge. “Equipping employees with the latest technology provides a modern environment, increases productivity and allows the company to grow more quickly,” says Parekh.

“This is because it enables them to do their jobs more efficiently and to a higher standard, while offering opportunities for upskilling as well.”



Source: The Telegraph UK