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April 8, 2011 - Shammam Consulting Services

Employee motivation can often be difficult to maintain, especially when you’re running a small business with limited resources. Incentives are really imperative when it comes to motivating your employees, however, so finding simple and inexpensive alternatives is necessary.

There are loads of ways to motivate employees that don’t include things like big bonuses or costly benefits. A hand-written thank you letter can go a long way in terms of showing employee appreciation. Here are a few other ideas:

1. Ask for input

By seeking employees’ opinions, you are showing them that their opinions are valued. Employees are likely to be more inclined to work harder when they feel that their actions and opinions truly influence the company overall.

2. Change it up

Sometimes repetition can lead to a reduction in motivation. When this happens, it’s crucial to remember the cause for the tapering motivation and mix things up a little. If you know an employee is willing to exercise a certain skill, try giving him or her a project that allows for that.

3. Focus on a great company culture

People who love their jobs often do because they feel their company is distinct from others. Companies that offer special or fun perks often draw in great employees and tend to keep their employees happy longer. Things like a game room in the office, where employees can go relieve a little frustration when need be, can go a long way in employee motivation.

4. Recognize people for a job well done

One of the biggest de-motivators can be toiling away on something and feeling like nobody is even aware of your hard work. Because of this, it’s necessary to let employees know that you recognize their hard work and appreciate it.

Something as simple as a company-wide email highlighting their accomplishments can re-ignite motivation and make employees want to continue working hard. Although the attention may embarrass some, many people like to know that others recognize their effort.

All of these ideas are great, affordable options for motivating employees when you don’t have a ton of resources. Testing out a few of these ideas could do wonders for employee motivation and keep morale high.

For more employee motivation techniques, check out this article.