Effective Ways To Make Employees Keep Happy And Motivated
Are you too struggling with the basic yet detrimental problem of human resource management? If yes, then continue reading, you'll receive all your answers here.
No matter how extraordinary a company is, how different and intriguing its plans and policies are, or how hopeful the upcoming finances look like, if the employees are not happy and satisfied, it can lead to an immediate and disastrous fall even before the managers realize it!
Let us now recall one of the famous quotes by the business magnate, investor, author, and philanthropist - Richard Branson.
"Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients."
It summarizes how important it is to keep the employees happy and motivated at work.
Happy employees = Productive work = Happy customers = Overall growth.
Let us now move forward to certain mandatory key points on 'how to make employees happy'.
This can be explained in a more reasonable manner with the help of Maslow's need hierarchy theory.
It consists of 5 stages, each explaining how the needs of an individual (or particularly an employee) proceed from one stage to another.
1.Physiological Needs: It basically includes survival needs, that is, such needs that are necessary for human survival. Basic food, clothing, and shelter come under this category. The employees’ salaries will take care of their physiological needs.
2. Security and Safety Need: Once the basic survival needs are fulfilled, we as humans move forward to safety and security needs. Pension, job security, safe working environment, etc will fulfill an individual’s safety and security needs.
3. Social Needs: We are social creatures, hence, we look forward to forming meaningful human relations. Social needs include the need for love, belongingness, friendships, and brotherhood. Belongingness with the organization, enthusiastic and friendly colleagues, and after work parties will fulfill an employee’s social needs.
4. Esteem Needs: After the first three basic needs are fulfilled and an individual is socially accepted in society or business, they have the sudden urge to become important and gain recognition. Hence, esteem needs include self-esteem, status, respect as well as confidence. Providing recognitions and titles from time to time can help meet esteem needs.
5. Self-Actualization Needs: This is the highest level of need that an individual has. It consists of one’s inner desires, realizing his/her true potential, and achieving the highest level of personal satisfaction and growth that they can. There should be enough space in the organization so the employees can achieve their self-actualization needs.
This famous theory provides us the base of what must be done to make employees happy and keep them motivated at work. Now, let us move forward to certain key points that if followed can lead to a better work environment and keep employees connected, motivated, and in harmony with the organization.
1.The biggest motivator - Money: Employees must be provided with a reasonable salary keeping in mind the competitor’s salary as well as the standard market prices and government regulations. A good salary and its realization by the employees is a strong motivator for effective performance. Money, no matter how simple it may seem, is a strong and effective motivator.
2. Reasonable deadlines: It is no doubt necessary and important to get the assignments done on or before time. However, while setting deadlines, employers must be particularly careful to allow a reasonable time for the completion of the task. It will not only help keep the employees on the right track but also keep them from being demotivated by a sudden increase in workload. Treat them like you would want to be treated yourself and alas wonders happen.
3. Maintain transparency: The employees must not feel cheated or tricked in the organization. Maintain the right amount of transparency with your employees, trust them, let them trust you, and be amazed by the results. This two-way openness between the management and the employees can foster honesty and effective communication to a great extent. Knowing deeply and clearly about the organization, its success and failures will help improve loyalty.
4. Encourage employee participation: Employees are humans, and as humans, they like to feel that the work they are performing is based upon their own decisions. Give them a little autonomy, and the results will flow. This also helps in the process of employee empowerment in the workplace. Encouraging employees to speak up in front of their superiors will motivate them to give their best and make them feel important at the same time.
5. Promote a positive work environment: As already mentioned, happy employees can lead the business to a whole new level. Hence, positivity in the workplace is of prime importance. It not only improves the productivity and the creativity of the employees but also keeps them in a healthy mental state. To promote positivity in the work environment, choose effective leaders, smile often, show gratitude, and always be thankful.
6. Set the example: Don't command your employees to do something you wouldn't do yourself. If they are asked to work extra hours to meet the upcoming orders, then stay with them in the workplace while they work. This not only motivates them to work harder but also brings belongingness with the organization and its success. Be a dedicated leader, work hard, work smart, and uplift others. Remember, the action is always louder than words.
7. Provide extra perks along with the basic salary: Additional perks such as paid leaves, health insurance, dental insurance as well as flexible schedules helps in keeping employees happy. Giving them early access to upcoming events, discounts on huge purchases, and free coffee breaks during the working hours is essential. These perks are such that it costs less (also, provides a constructive edge over the competitors) but can improve the morale of the employees to an immense level.
8. Recognition is the key motivator: Generally, bosses scold their employees in front of everyone and praise them in secret when it should actually be done the other way round. Employees must be recognized publicly for their exemplary performance and consistent efforts. But their mistakes are theirs to keep, so it should be pointed out in private, only for their understanding. Giving additional titles such as 'employee of the month' can go a long way in motivating the employees. This helps them realize their esteem needs in the organization.
9. Foster team meetings: When different levels of management come together for either attending meetings or for discussions, they develop a sense of belongingness with the organization and it also fosters teamwork and team coordination. Team meetings are not only essential for the employees but also for the management as they can track their workers’ progress as well as the issues faced by them. Having a minimum of one team meeting a week keeps employees focussed and dedicated to achieving the organizational goals.
10. Align employees’ personal goals with the organization’s goal: An employee is more interested in his/her personal goals than the organizational goals. They are even ready to go beyond the standard level to achieve set personal goals. Hence, aligning employee's personal goals with the organizational goals can speed up the work and increase productivity in a short span of time. If the organization earns more, the employees get more.
11. Give clear instructions: The management must be clear and exact in what they expect from their employees. When the employees know their roles, their tasks, and what exactly is expected out of them, then they are more keen to realize such goals and provide the management what they asked for. Don't confuse them, be direct and clear in what you want. Having set tasks to finish and knowing the purpose of those tasks genuinely encourage employees to complete it.
12. Be consistent: It is the work of the middle-level management to be consistent with their employees. The perks, benefits, clarity, etc mentioned above must be provided to the employees on a regular and trustable basis. At no point should an employee be doubtful of receiving something that they were promised earlier. Be consistent with your support and management, and they will be consistent with their work!
How to make employees happy?
Adding on to the points mentioned above, keeping employees happy is easy and achievable if there is a genuine effort made to understand and support them. They are humans, all they look forward to is a sincere acknowledgment of their efforts and hard work and a good communicator who can make them feel important and heard at the same time.
Take out time for your employees' goodwill, and your company's goodwill will increase exponentially!