Employee motivation can mean a lot of different things and come in a lot of different forms. It means your employees are excited to come to work every day and do their best to make the organization as successful as possible. Employee motivation can also get so granular that at the most basic level employee goals are in line with organization targets. I'm not talking about employee 6 month goals that go on review forms, I mean that their long term goals match the long term targets of their organization. Here are two unique ways to align employee goals with organizational targets to improve the overall harmony of employees' work life balance and workplace motivation.
- Discover personal goals alongside professional goals: Employee goals can extend outside the realm of you employees professional lives. One employee may have a goal to run a 5k this year, while another may want to learn how to knit, and yet another may want to read a book a month all year. Providing employees outlets to accomplish their personal goals in the context of their work environment is a great way to motivate them to focus on their work during their working hours. Helping achieve employee goals by arranging a training group, a lunchtime knitting group, or a book club allows employees to have stress relief built into their day. This not only makes employees feel appreciated, but makes them more focused and motivated during the hours at their desks and in meetings.
- Connect individual employee goals to the big picture: Employees want to see the impact their work has on the organization at large. So show them the big picture. Even if it's the most junior level employee doing tasks like data entry or data cleansing, show them the impact their work is having on the organization and how it is helping the company reach its goals. For employees who consistently make an exceptional impact small rewards like gift cards or a lunch with the CEO or other executive management can be a great way to say thank you and continue the cycle of motivation.
There are a number of ways to connect employee goals and organization goals and targets. Find what works for your company and your staff. Once you establish the basic infrastructure, the cycle of motivation will
practically run itself.
