Employees are motivated by recognition from bosses for a job well done.
Bonuses and other monetary rewards are often considered to be the top reasons employees are motivated to do a good job and remain loyal to a company. However, motivation is hampered when employees don't get positive feedback from their bosses, no matter how much employees are paid. That's just one way poor communication hinders motivation in the workplace.
Employer vs. Employee
Some employers make the mistake of assuming that they and their employees are motivated by the same things. For instance, a "USA Today" article titled "Finding What Motivates Your Employees" points out that entrepreneurs have drive and a willingness to take risks to build businesses. However, employees can be more motivated by job security, good benefits and raises. Still, the article notes that employees and business owners have some motivational factors in common, such as the satisfaction of knowing they've done a good job.
Recognition
The "USA Today" article asserts that studies consistently indicate that employees appreciate being recognized for good work almost more than other rewards. Furthermore, they tend to work harder if they know that their company recognizes employees for good work. The recognition employees receive can be as simple as sending a department-wide email about an employee's good work or publishing a worker's job-related achievements in a company newsletter.
Communication
An "Inc." magazine article notes that the boss' attitude is contagious because it spreads throughout the company and sets either a positive or negative tone in the workplace. The article, titled "7 Tips for Motivating Employees," suggests that communication from the boss is the key to making employees feel like they're included in company decisions and are part of the company's success. Workers also tend to be more motivated to do their jobs well when they're asked for suggestions on improve the company. However, some of those suggestions need to be implemented for employees to take requests for suggestions seriously.
Self Improvement
Longtime employees sometimes get bored with their jobs, especially if they think they don't have opportunities to improve their job skills and learn new ones. In such cases, employees could be motivated by educational opportunities offered by their employers. Those opportunities could come in the form of community college classes or seminars. Some workers also are motivated by the chance to improve other parts of their lives, such as their health. Therefore, company-paid gym memberships and exercise classes create a motivational atmosphere in the workplace.
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