Engaging and Retaining Your Employees

Tapping into Key Motivations

As a manager or team leader, understanding what motivates your employees is crucial for creating a positive and productive work environment. This article will tell you about four key motivators and how you can use behavioral science and data to understand and use them effectively.

1. Motivator 1: Winning – Fueling the Competitive Drive
2. Motivator 2: Belonging – Fostering a Sense of Togetherness
3. Motivator 3: Steadiness – Providing Stability and Recognition
4. Motivator 4: Getting It Right – Recognizing Attention to Detail

Motivator 1: Winning – Fueling the Competitive Drive

Some employees are competitive, action-oriented, and assertive. They have a strong need to be in control. To motivate them, talk about winning or losing. Let them participate in competitions or projects that fuel their competitive spirit. By recognizing and supporting their desire to excel, you can keep them engaged and motivated (and that’s winning!).

Motivator 2: Belonging – Fostering a Sense of Togetherness

Some employees are social and like working in teams. They feel motivated when they belong to a group. To motivate them, create opportunities for them to contribute in public. Ask for their thoughts and opinions during team meetings. If you work remotely, turn on your camera during virtual meetings to help them feel connected. Don’t ignore them, because feeling ignored by their leader can make them look for attention elsewhere (either in the break room, or worse, at a different organization).

Motivator 3: Steadiness – Providing Stability and Recognition

Some employees like things to be organized and stable. They work well with clear processes and routines. To motivate them, provide a stable and consistent work environment whenever possible. Let them have a say in creating or improving processes. Recognize their loyalty and their ability to work at a steady pace. By appreciating their efforts and providing stability, you can keep them motivated and engaged (and more productive, too).

Motivator 4: Getting It Right – Recognizing Attention to Detail

Some employees are perfectionists (but, really). They care a lot about accuracy and attention to detail. To motivate them, recognize their commitment to quality by expressing appreciation for their accuracy and attention to detail. Offer them opportunities to enhance their expertise with job knowledge and resources. By helping them avoid mistakes and supporting their pursuit of excellence, you can fuel their motivation and drive for perfection.

In Summary

To summarize, understanding your employees’ motivations is important for keeping them engaged and retained. By tapping into their motivators like winning, belonging, steadiness, and getting it right, you can create a work environment that suits their needs. Remember, these motivators are just the beginning. You should delve deeper into your employees’ behavioral assessment results and find individual management strategies that work for each team member.

Your Next Steps

If you want to learn more about your employees’ motivators, explore their behavioral assessment results and find the management strategy that suits them best. By making a few simple adjustments, you can gain valuable insights into what makes your team members tick and create an environment that keeps them engaged and retained. Start today and reap the benefits of a motivated and productive team.