How Managers Kill Employee Motivation

How Managers Kill Employee MotivationHow Managers Kill Employee MotivationEmployee motivation is essential for a productive and successful workplace, and the best managers strive to establish an environment that inspires and engages all their workers.That may sound simple enough, but professionals feel disengaged at their jobs more than a quarter (26 percent) of the time, on average, according to new Accountemps research. That can lead to low morale, lost productivity and employee turnover.Sometimes its the supervisors who sap their staffs enthusiasm without realizing what theyre doing. If youre worried about employee motivation and youre in a position to improve it, read on for eight mistakes you may be making as a manager - along with tips for avoiding these habits1. Youre not supportiveA supportive manager plays a huge role in job satisfaction, so its important to take a genuine interest in your employees career and professional development. You can offer training or mentoring in the workplace. Its also crucial to support employees work-life balance that means being as flexible as possible when personal and family issues arise.In the survey, 19 percent of the respondents said their engagement at work would increase if they had a better boss, and 22 percent said more kollektivbuilding/work outings would help.2. You dont pay enoughPaying employees what theyre worth - and at market rates - is a key element of motivation, so do what you can to offer competitive compensation. You can find wage ranges for more than 135 cities with the 2018 Robert Half Salary Guide. 3. You dont show appreciationSalaries arent the only type of reward to consider, of course. You should thank your staff members, individually or as a group, when they perform exceptionally well or meet a milestone. You can organize parties or events to celebrate a team success. Or offer amenities, like one of the ones ment ioned in the survey.What was the most common response to what would make workers better engaged? Better perks Nap room, anyone?4. You dont communicateIts important that your employees know they can talk to you when they have a problem or a question, but you can also motivate them by regularly reaching out to them. That means making sure your team understands what you expect of them, explaining how their roles fit into overall company priorities, and asking them about their own goal setting and priorities.5. You micromanage employeesFew things kill motivation like micromanagement. If youre constantly hovering over employees and second-guessing their choices, theyre not going to feel like they can make any decisions on their own. Thats why, once your employees know your expectations and have the right training, its best to get out of the way and let them do their jobs. Do what you can to structure projects so that employees have more autonomy and involvement in important decisions fro m beginning to end.A third (31 percent) of the workers polled said theyd prefer less bureaucratic red tape at work.6. You allow negative attitudes to dominateRespondents to the survey ranked friendly coworkers second only to supportive managers as contributors to satisfaction on the job. If you have negative employees, put policies and supervision in place to manage the most annoying workplace behavior.7. You dont tolerate failureWhen employees are allowed to manage their work without fear of retribution for making mistakes, they are typically more productive. Instead of instilling fear, encourage your team to learn from errors and misjudgments.8. You waste peoples timePeople hate feeling like theyre wasting time. For that reason, try to avoid sending unnecessary emails or holding needless meetings. If you must call a meeting, make sure you have an agenda and stick to a time schedule.Do you know what your workers wish youd do to be a better boss? Part of your job as a manager is to know your employees and learn what motivates them. Use our survey responses as a starting place.Find out how to improve employee engagement by city, and, below, see data tables that show what makes professionals more engaged at work, with preferences by age. Subscribe to our newsletterWhen you subscribe to the Robert Half newsletter, youll get articles and resources to help you build and manage a winning accounting and finance team - all sent directly to your inbox. Click the button below to sign up todaySUBSCRIBE NOW