Employee motivation brings about hard work
"The employer should never be put in a position where he or she says 'but we pay you, why should we thank you?' Employers have to thank their employees and thereby build their self-confidence. Find out what needs to be fixed before your ship sinks."
MBOMBELA – A ship’s successful voyage is determined by its competence, but also by the crew’s attitude and cooperativeness. This hinges on the captain’s ability to motivate and manage the team.
This was the message of Ms Mel Tomlinson, business coach and CEO of Performance Booster at a business breakfast at Umbali last Thursday.
“See your business as a boat of which you are the captain. The happiness and motivation of your staff, or your crew, is directly equivalent to the amount of work they will put into your business. Only about nine per cent of your workers are rowers, doing whatever they can to keep your business afloat. About 46 per cent of them are passengers, those simply present to enjoy the view. They are basically dead weight and will not do anything more than is expected of them. Then you have a shocking 45 per cent who are plungers. These employees will go out of their way to actually try and sink the boat,” she said.
According to Tomlinson, no employee starts at a company with the intention to sink it. They develop this intention when they are disengaged and become disengaged when there is no motivation to do their job.
“I am not talking about a higher salary, unless the employee works harder. Rather incentivise them with compliments and make them feel like they are needed and part of something bigger.”
She continued to say that employee engagement starts long before the actual employment.
The employer’s attitude during the interview and the other employees’ attitudes toward their jobs also play a vital role.
Ideally, one wants to reach a state of predictable success in which all employees are engaged in the business and want to go to work. That comes with trust, and trust between employer and employee is built by showing care from both sides.
“The employer should never be put in a position where he or she says ‘but we pay you, why should we thank you?’ Employers have to thank their employees and thereby build their self-confidence. Find out what needs to be fixed before your ship sinks.”
