When you look out on
your workers, what do you see? Is it a team of hard-workers who love what they
do or a group of professionals just trying to get through their day?
Either way, it could
have a lot more to do with you than you might think. 
You may have hired
the perfect team with extensive experience and a proven track record, but if
their enthusiasm is waning, it may be time to re-evaluate your management
style.
To help you rethink
your leadership strategy, we’ve created a helpful list of 10 easy ways to
inspire your staff, keeping them motivated and ready to take on any challenge.
1. Stop micromanaging
Nobody likes to be
micromanaged. If your employees feel like they constantly have someone looking
over their shoulder, they’ll be too nervous to try new things, which limits
their potential.
By taking a step
back and giving your team more autonomy, you’re showing that you have faith in
their ability to get the job done, which can inspire them to give it their all.
2. Make it safe to fail
If your staff are too
scared of failing, how can you expect them to create new and innovative ideas?
Failure is a natural
by-product of risk-taking and shouldn’t be portrayed as something heinous.
Without trying out new ideas, businesses won’t be able to keep up with competitors
and will remain stagnant.
So, instead of
pressuring employees to work without making mistakes – which is an impossible
feat – you should encourage outside-the-box thinking.
Yes, there will be
times when ideas fall flat, but if your team are too scared to try, they’ll
never improve.
3. Invest in your employees
Putting your
customers first is a popular saying for businesses, but if you really want your
company to grow, it’s your staff that should be your number one concern.
Investing into your staff to help them get the career they want does wonders
for their loyalty and productivity in the long run — and you’ll reap the
benefits for it.
Consider setting up
a competitive pension pot or ensuring each individual has a dedicated
progression plan. You don’t need to make drastic changes to your business; just
ensure your employees know that they are integral to the company. After all,
you’d be nowhere without them.
4. Give them purpose
It’s easy to give
employees more responsibility, but why stop there? Rather than simply assuming
staff want a larger workload, give them something they can really sink their
teeth into.
If you know a team
member isn’t being utilised to their full potential, give them a renewed sense
of purpose with an exciting new project to break up the day-to-day grind.
Having control over a task helps to inspire people to do whatever it takes to
make it a success.
Make sure you let
them finish it, though: seeing a project through from start to finish is
extremely rewarding.
5. Include them in big decisions
You may be at the
top of the corporate ladder, but your employees are just as much a part of the
company as you are.
Instead of telling
them what direction the business is going, let them get involved in the
decision making. Asking for their opinion instils a sense of belonging and a
feeling that they matter.
This doesn’t mean
you should let people make whatever changes they want, but it does mean
employees should have their say in decisions that affect the company they
dedicate so much of their time too. For example, you could empower them to make
the call on the next step on a key strategy or let them lead the discussion
with a potential candidate for a new role.
6. Recognise good work
Everyone loves
recognition. Being recognised for a job well done not only makes us feel good,
but it lets us know that we’re making the right decisions in our work and
encourages us to keep going.
Offer someone praise
in a way that suits their personality. Public praise is great, but if your
employees don’t like to be the centre of attention, pointing out their
successes in front of the whole office isn’t the most tactful approach.
Instead, a thoughtful email would be more appreciated, or even better, grab them
for a quick 1-2-1 when they’re free to congratulate them personally.
7. Be transparent
Trust goes both
ways: it’s not enough for you to show you trust your team, they need to trust
you too. So, ditch the buzzwords and speak openly with your employees. They
know you’re the boss; you don’t need to try and impress them.
Regularly update
your team on important business metrics — yes, even the frightening ones. Make
sure it’s a space where people can ask questions and don’t get defensive
answers. This not only shows a level of trust but also helps solidify a
company-wide bond. You’re essentially saying that you’re all in it together and
outlining what you can do as a team to reach mutual success.
8. Give employees ownership
If you tell an
employee that they are accountable for how well a task performs, all you’re
doing is conjuring up a fear of failure and the inevitable repercussions that
will fall on their head. Instead of giving people accountability, give them
ownership of their work.
This isn’t just a
case of using positive terminology, you need to truly let your team own what
they do for the business. Let them spread their wings creatively, giving them
the freedom to try new ideas and really put their heart into their work;
creating something they can be proud of.
9. Put your people first
Employees are the
lifeblood of any business, so it only makes sense to put your team above all
else. Implementing benefits like competitive maternity and paternity leave is a
sure-fire way to show your staff that your business doesn’t hold more
importance than the people who work for it.
Allowing annual
leave for charity days is another great way to inspire loyalty in your workers.
You’re showing them that you’re happy to allow them to take time out of their
business hours to support a good cause that means something to them. This also
helps you build stronger relationships with your team, as you’ll have a greater
understanding of what makes them tick, rather than just their job role.
10. Have fun!
If you want to keep
your staff inspired, you need to show them you’re a human rather than just an
authority figure. By having a laugh and getting stuck in with your team, you’re
showing that you’re all on the same team – after all, you work hard together,
so play hard together.
How you inject fun into your office is down to you and the workplace culture you want to create for your business. Some managers choose to add pool tables or table football to their breakrooms, whereas others have a Friday afternoon office social to wind down from the week. It’s more than just the occasional get-together though, as creating a fun work environment in your day-to-day business will help nurture creativity and instill a positive office attitude.
by Suzanne Haughton, Recruitment Consultant for Love Energy Savings
