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The manager is a crucial link between employees and upper management, playing a key role in driving motivation, increasing productivity, and achieving organizational goals. While motivating employees is essential, keeping that motivation alive over the long term can be challenging.

To be effective, a manager must address all aspects of motivation, from meeting basic needs to offering opportunities for leadership and development.
Here are some practical strategies a manager can implement to keep employees motivated and help them perform at their best.

Top Strategies to Motivate Employees

Take Care of Employees’ Needs
Managers can motivate the employees by taking care of the diverse needs of the employees as presented in Maslow’s ‘theory of human motivation’. As the theory explains humans are derived for ‘deficiency needs’ (physiological, survival, safety, love, esteem). Managers need to ensure that employees can meet their physiological needs while working in the organization. The job description should be satisfactory to meet their financial needs, safety needs, and emotional needs, which is the basic motivation to be productive.

Set a Reward System
A reward system which may include salary bonuses or related perks can be the best motivation for employees. Rewards like employee of the month plaques and employee of the year awards keep them motivated to work harder and get appreciation in front of their colleagues. When employees feel like their work is appreciated and rewarded, their morale is boosted and they feel confident which creates a productive environment.
Build a Trustworthy Connection

Another important factor in employee motivation is the connection between the managers and employees. If the managers have a good relationship with their team members, they can easily implement new strategies and mobilize the team on their terms. Also, a good connection builds a sense of security in employees’ minds. They trust the leader and are motivated to achieve the goals together as they believe in getting the right treatment and encouragement.

Assign a Relevant Role
Understanding the behavior of the employees and assigning them relevant roles is crucial to keeping them motivated during their tasks. Some employees value power and authority while others just be happy being part of the team. Assessing the mindset and giving the relevant role is the way to make them feel motivated and productive. When an employee is given their favorite role, they are naturally motivated, preventing the manager from putting in any extra effort. It’s also important to set clear and realistic goals that your employees can achieve. Burdening them with unachievable goals may distress them, leading to unproductivity.

Promote Mentorship Programs
Promoting mentoring opportunities for personal and professional development is a brilliant way to keep employees motivated. It gives them a gateway to learn new strategies and implement them in the workplace. Employees can gain insight into their career paths, set goals, and understand how to achieve them. These mentorship programs give employees a platform to get guidance, knowledge, advice, and a collaborative work environment. When employees have a mentor, they are motivated to prove their worth and show their skills to their mentor and the manager.
Encourage Teamwork

Teamwork and collaboration give your employees a chance to show their talent to coworkers, motivating them to take leadership roles and work better than their colleagues. The urge to achieve higher positions and outsmart their colleagues in a teamwork environment keeps them motivated to work harder and be more productive.

Give Employees Freedom of Work
Giving the employees freedom and responsibility is another way of motivating them to give their best performance. Allow your employees to make decisions and take risks. When they own their work and understand that they are responsible for their tasks, it is the time when they bring out their best performance.

Prioritize Diversity and Equity
Establish a system that prioritizes diversity and equity, creating a sense of belonging among the employees regardless of their backgrounds. This not only motivates them to be more productive but also makes them responsible for their tasks. An inclusive and respectful workplace is what every employee needs to feel valued and heard, ultimately leading to better retention and productivity.

Offer Creative Freedom
Another way of motivating the employees is to encourage innovation and give them creative freedom. Allow them to bring new ideas and solutions to the table. This motivates them to be productive while being creative and makes them clever thinkers and problem-solvers for the organization.

Stabilize the Environment and Prioritize Growth
To keep the employees motivated and productive for a long period, managers need to establish rules that bring stability to the organization and create a safe and secure environment for all the employees where they can aim for long-term careers. Creating an environment where growth is prioritized motivates the employees to keep pushing and achieve career goals. They spend their energy and time where they can sense growth in their field.

Lead By Example
Managers also need to lead by example as it sets a standard for employees. Encourage your employees to follow the same path and bring the same work ethic and behavior in their dealings. A good example makes them efficient members who work passionately for the company’s growth. Also, it develops their character for future leadership roles.

Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance
A healthy work-life balance can motivate employees to be regular at work and produce great results for the company. Offer flexible work hours, remote work options, and wellness programs to take care of their mental and physical health. When employees feel the company cares for them, they develop a sense of belonging and are highly motivated to be more productive and consistent.

Create a Regular Feedback System
Feedback is crucial to let employees know if they are meeting the company’s requirements or need to be better. Proper communication clarifies their position in the company and what they need to focus on. The feedback system should be positive and there should only be constructive criticism. There should be one-to-one sessions between employees and managers and weekly or monthly meetings where the performance of individual employees and the team can be discussed.