How to motivate staff in the new year: back to business after the party season.

PositionManager

After a month of pre-Christmas parties and a holiday dedicated to over-indulgence, getting your staff motivated in the first weeks of January can be a real challenge. An overhaul of some of you r management practices ca n help you to refocus and get the best out of your people. So make sure your new year's resolutions include some of the following:

  1. Build self-esteem--everyone likes to be recognised for their achievements. Set realistic, achievable goals. If you want to kickstart an employee's enthusiasm after new year, don't wait for their annual appraisal. Use every opportunity you can to recognise good work: "You did a great job on that spread sheet"; "Good effort"; "I appreciate your staying late"; "Outstanding!"

  2. Recognise individuality--people have different needs. It might take some employees longer than others to get back into the swing of things. Appreciate your employees as they are and how they see their situation, then you will understand their preferences, commitments and actions more realistically. Customise goals, levels of involvement and rewards for each individual. Not everyone is motivated by the same things: for some it is money, while for others it is challenging tasks and recognition from colleagues, particularly in the case of professionals.

  3. Give staff constructive feedback as regularly as possible--be specific about the performance you wish to applaud and offer constructive comments immediately--this reinforces the positive behaviours powerfully and builds esteem among your employees.

  4. Encourage employees to participate in decisions that affect them--use the start of the new year as a convenient time to sit down with your staff and review goals. Your team can contribute to a number of decisions that affect them: setting work goals, choosing their benefit packages, or solving quality and productivity problems. This will increase productivity, commitment to work goals and job satisfaction.

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