All businesses have the imperative of keeping employees motivated and engaged in their work. Making sure that your employees are not only doing a good job for your company but also feel like part of the team is key to your company’s success rate.

Here are a few recommendations you might want to consider when it comes to motivating your employees and keeping them engaged. Most sound like common sense, but you’d be amazed at how many business owners overlook these simple steps:

Define Your Vision Clearly

It’s important that you make sure that the vision of your company gives employees a roadmap that they can follow so they are prepared for all the twists and turns that come with any business.

Give Them What They Need and Want

Never assume that every employee of yours has all the support, training, and tools they need. Make sure you check in with their supervisors as well as speaking directly with employees.

Communication is Key

Make sure that you communicate well and often with all your employees. This can be done through memos, newsletters, FAQs, and training sessions as well as regular company meetings. All of these things can help reinforce your company vision to everyone on your team.

Communication becomes especially important if there are difficult times ahead. To reduce employee uncertainty, communication should have the following objectives in mind:

• Share company vision and information
• Ensure there is clarity of company objectives
• Reduce anxiety
• Minimize any resistance
• Challenge the status quo
• Get commitment to change

Make Sure All are Engaged

Find a way to get all employees engaged in company decision-making and planning. This way employees will have buy-in and feel like the new objective is “their baby”. It makes them have a vested interest and feel like it’s worth fighting for. You can accomplish this by asking for input and ideas.  Engagement breeds motivation and empowerment.

Act Fairly, Show Respect, and Create Trust

As a business owner, you must use your wisdom, experience, and judgment in order to create an environment that is supportive. This means when problems come up you need to examine both sides, understand the context, and only then can you make a judgment on it. Show employees you trust them and respect them and they will do the same in return.

Avoid Downsizing by Being Creative

Instead of downsizing at your business, consider finding creative ways to use the talents of those who work for you. It’s important that those who work for you trust you and most would rather lose a few cents of their salary than be laid off.

Consider Incentive Programs

No matter what kind of business you have, consider implementing incentive programs. Research has shown that these types of programs are very beneficial and do motivate employees. The major benefit is that the cost of the programs are based on performance and are only paid out after the goals have been met.

To find out more about how your water company can benefit from these ideas and many more, get in touch with us at The LeverEdge today.