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Everyone knows the qualities of being a great leader. Empathy, positivity, accountability and integrity all make up part of the bigger picture and go a long way overall. But when it comes down to it, improving yourself can only go so far. You have to be able to show your team how to work by setting a good example and this isn’t always easy. Being a leader comes with a lot of pressure and responsibility; you have to manage others and get them to perform at levels that are beneficial for the business, while also ensuring that they are happy at work.
Finding employees with the right talent and drive and then investing in training them and creating a team that is effective is one of your main roles as a leader. However, if they’re not motivated to do their best work, all of this means nothing!
When it comes to business growth and success, employee motivation will have a direct impact on that of the company. In fact, a lack of motivation can result in a decline in mood, a reduction in productivity, low mental health, and of course, a reduction in the quality of work produced. As a leader, you need to be able to keep employee satisfaction high and motivate your employees to work at their best.
Thankfully, there are several ways you can do this! These are just some of the ways that you can show appreciation to your team:
1. Say thank you
Never underestimate the power of a simple thank you for a job well done. This doesn’t have to be for the big wins, but for the small daily wins that every successful team has in order to get where they want to be. Try saying thank you in person to the people in your team and if one person, in particular, deserves recognition, then thank them in the team meeting where their peers can appreciate the hard work that they have put in.
A handwritten note is an underutilised way to thank individuals in your team. They will appreciate that you took the time out to write the note for them. If it’s a team-wide thank you then an email may be more suitable. Whatever the means, ensure that your team knows that you appreciate the work that they are doing.
2. Reward hard work, not just achievements
It’s always great when teams get the results that are looking for; whether they get a big win for the client, an advertising campaign goes viral or they are nominated and win a lofty award within the industry. It’s easy to celebrate these wins with your team and the rest of the company, in general, will recognise them for their work on the project.
However, we can’t always win and you need to remember to congratulate your teams for the hard work and nominations that they didn’t win as well.
3. Non-monetary rewards
Monetary-based incentives are a great way to reward your team and most companies will have these kinds of schemes. However, money isn’t everything and your team will also appreciate recognition in ways that aren’t solely based on money. Money spent is gone, so the team member then has no tangible item to display or use for encouragement. Also, you can consider letting them leave early on certain days, allowing them to work from home a couple of times a week, or giving them more paid leave for work well done. These will be appreciated more than you can imagine.
4. Create an authentic culture
Having the right kind of culture within your team can really make or break employee satisfaction. A culture that is fun, authentic and full of gratitude is a wonderful way to keep your employees motivated. When you implement a culture within the company that celebrates small wins and where peer-recognition is strong, you are bound to have happier and more productive teams; this could also spread to other teams within the business and this is only a positive for the success of the company.
5. Meaningful gifts and awards
There’s no point in slapping a name on a trophy off the shelf and handing it out to your team members. Make sure you spend some time getting to know them personally and what they are all about. You can then personalise a gift or award that they will really appreciate and put in a place of pride in their home or office.
At Impact Glass Creations, we work alongside our customers to help them turn their gratitude and recognition of their teams into real-life pieces of art that are personalised and meaningful. We design and craft unique pieces for our clients to their design or theme requirements. Whether you’re celebrating the big wins, small moments or just the dedication and hard work of your team, we have an award or gift that will live in the memories of your team for years to come. Get in touch with us if you’d like to know more about how we can help you show your team the gratitude that they deserve.