Six Scientifically Proven Ways to Motivate People At Work
Six Scientifically Proven Ways to Motivate People at Work
Keeping your staff motivated, especially during tough times, is important for your business' success. The six proven ways to motivate people are:
- More Money.
- More Security.
- Social Conditions.
- Physical conditions.
- Personal Achievement.
- Appreciation and praise.
1. Money.
Money is the primary reason why people work.
Whenever we establish a link between performance and money, ie Better performance = More money, then we observe an immediate increase in motivation.
Although not every profession can be incentivised by linking more output for more money. For example, you could not link police officers' wages to the number of convictions. And we recognise that NOT all people are incentivised by money, but most are.
At work, money is the number one motivator.
2. Security.
Psychologically, people fall into one of two groups, those who are motivated to achieve: and those who are motivated to stay safe. Money satisfies the achiever mentality. Security satisfies the safety-first mentality. Millions of people stay in jobs they don't like, because it is safe. Many people have dreams of starting their own business, but they don't make the leap, preferring to stay in employment because they believe it offers them greater security.
You may motivate people by reasoning that it is an uncertain world "out there" and they are safer and more secure working for your organisation.
3. Social conditions.
These are the social relationships within the team. People get a lot of satisfaction and motivation from their professional relationships in the workplace. For some people, this is their main motivator. They love the people they work with. Consequently, it is vital that you work to ensure the team spirit is positive and welcoming.
4. Physical conditions.
Having an aesthetically pleasing working environment will make your employees feel happier and more motivated. Therefore, it is important to create a pleasant working environment. Physical conditions include: air quality, temperature, lighting, noise pollution, office furniture, cleanliness, as well as facilities for taking breaks and refreshments.
The principles to remember are: Unpleasant environments repel. Pleasant environments attract.
5. Achievement.
The opportunity for personal achievement is a major motivator for many people. Most people want to be involved in doing something great, to be associated with meaningful, moral, and important work. They want to feel their work is "making a difference".
Illustrative story: During the 1960s, NASA captured the world's imagination by sending men to the moon. Meanwhile, back on earth, the man who was sweeping the NASA car parking lot, was wearing a boiler suit with a message on his back which read: "Helping to Put Man on the Moon".
The principle to remember is: If you romanticise your product, you will motivate your staff.
6. Appreciation and praise.
By far the easiest and possibly the best way to motivate people is simply by showing your gratitude.
One of the most common demotivators is the feeling of being unappreciated. In fact many relationships have failed, due to a lack of appreciation.
Most people hate being taken for granted, and will see it as an insult and a massive demotivator.
In contrast, a few well chosen words of thanks, praise and appreciation is one of the most powerful motivators of the human spirit.
Appreciation is free to give and costly not to.
Definition: staff motivation
Staff motivation is the state in business where employees want to give their best because they are fairly paid and feel secure, work in a friendly and pleasant place, see real chances to achieve meaningful goals, and hear regular, sincere thanks for their effort. Remove any one of these conditions and motivation falls.
Show CG4D Definition
- Employees receive fair pay and feel job security
- Workplace offers supportive social ties and pleasant physical conditions
- Staff have clear chances to achieve meaningful goals
- Managers give regular, sincere appreciation and praise
Article Summary
Motivate staff by meeting six basic human needs: fair pay, job security, friendly teams, pleasant spaces, clear chances to achieve, and sincere praise; when these needs are met, engagement rises, turnover falls and profit grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What is the most powerful of the six staff motivators?
How do I link pay to performance without adding stress?
What low-cost actions increase staff sense of job security?
How do good social conditions motivate a team?
Which quick fixes lift physical work conditions most?
How can I give praise that feels genuine?
Why does personal achievement motivate employees strongly?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace report shows firms with high staff engagement earn 23% higher profit and see 18% less turnover than those with low engagement. The CIPD Good Work Index 2024 found 48% of UK workers would look for a new job if they felt unappreciated, while 61% stay because they feel secure in their role.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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