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Did you know that almost 50% of employees are considering leaving their company by bad bosses? Today we face a lack of good leaders, which is creating a negative ripple effect across all companies. Good managers are the key to employee engagement which affects productivity, customer satisfaction and, most importantly, profits.
So how do great leaders inspire teams to improve productivity? Here are five things you can do to inspire your workforce.
1. Build on your employees’ strengths
The main job of a leader is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each individual employee. This helps them to assign tasks and responsibilities to the right employee.
This requires leaders to pay close attention to their employees, especially if they are new to the team. Observe how everyone collaborates on projects or interacts in meetings. You can also invite employees to submit new ideas and tips through presentations. If you run a large organization, assign this task to your senior management.
Related: 9 Ways to Become a Better Leader
2. Strengthen your team
When does team empowerment take place? You empower your employees when you give them the authority and responsibility to make decisions. An empowered team organizes itself around a leader rather than waiting for instructions. Delegated employees don’t have to wait for approvals to implement a decision.
Granting this authority gives your employees a new voice. They begin to own their opinions and also become responsible for their actions.
However, this is only possible if you empower the right employees after assessing their strengths and weaknesses. Otherwise, this strategy can backfire.
3. Walk the talk
There’s only one way to speak up: be the change you want to see in your team. In simple terms, before communicating any changes to the team, you must first implement them in your own work life.
Every leader’s personal ethical core must be consistent with the company’s values. If not, you will struggle to enforce it on others. On the other hand, when leaders consistently follow company rules, even in turbulent times, employees follow suit.
If a leader fails to speak, employees are less likely to follow the leader’s decisions. So, if you’re trying to run a business unit or an organization, remember that even the smallest actions can cause huge ripples in camaraderie and trust.
Related: How to become a more effective leader and manager?
4. Communicate Wisely
Another important thing is to keep your employees informed. This way everyone stays on the same page and stays focused. Use your persuasiveness to deliver the right messages at the right time. When sending an official email, ask yourself before hitting the send button:
Is this the right time to make this statement? Would it sound better if said in person?
The tone and timing of your message can make all the difference. Harsh words and an aggressive tone can harm the productivity of your employees. If your goal is to motivate and inspire, think about the timing and medium of your communication.
5. Offer Employee Incentives
Do you know that many of today’s most successful leaders rarely take credit for their successes? Instead, they praise their employees or colleagues who made it all possible. Humility is a hallmark of successful leaders.
Don’t forget to make a weekly or monthly honor roll or post names/photos of the most productive employees in your office. Pay tribute to an employee who has performed well for your entire team by motivating them to deliver the same results.
Hosting quarterly dinners/lunches is another great way to reward a team after finishing a project. But what’s the best way to recognize your team’s efforts? Rewards and incentives.
Offering monetary rewards to the most productive employees is one of the best ways to recognize your team’s efforts. While sending an email or a personal message is a grand gesture to thank your employees, incentives and rewards can give your team gratitude and confidence.
But another important question arises: how can employee productivity be tracked?
Use gamification to set up a transparent performance tracking system. Gamification means turning your work into games, making projects fun and engaging. Designing games with strategies and embedded business goals is the best way to track your employees’ performance.
According to an recent survey, nearly 90% of employees believe that gamification makes them more productive at work. That’s because managers and leaders can check each employee’s points and offer fair rewards. So naturally it boosts employee morale.
Related: Gamification can solve the big layoff. This is why.
End the Age of Bad Leaders
Gone are the days when draconian and authoritative leadership strategies worked to make employees more productive. Today, the best ways to inspire teams are to value your employees, create a flexible work environment, and promote open communication. Clearly define your expectations and communicate your work goals to inspire and motivate your team.
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