Motivating Employees with Constant Communication

It's important for ALLIANCE managers to keep center employees motivated in order to optimize staff performance and maximize results and profits. One way to keep your employees motivated is through constant communication.

On a regular and consistent basis, team members need to know what they are doing well and where they need improvement. Here are tips on using constant communication to motivate your center's employees.

Communicate through performance reviews

Most managers view performance reviews as another job requirement. The fact is that they are far more than that: performance reviews are a positive opportunity to review training needs and set mutual goals for future performance.

Reviews can focus on day-by-day, minute-by-minute feedback on performance aimed at motivation. Give praise for positive behavior and training for negative behavior.

Communicate through questioning and feedback

Ask your center employees their opinions on management policy, client procedures, suppliers, systems and anything else that might improve productivity or morale. Get feedback from them and find out what they think will work to make your center more productive and more successful.

Take some time to talk to them about life outside of work as well as their personal philosophies and ideas. Get to know your center's staff and let them know how important they are to your team and your center's success.

Communicate your future projections

Tell your employees what you see in the near and distant future for the center. Talk about new services and products you're considering, changes in personnel or procedures, new equipment purchases and anything else you can think of.

Let your staff know where your ALLIANCE center is headed, and what that means for them.

Communicate by listening and open door policy

When your center employees talk, pay attention. One idea could bring your center great success.

Clear the roadblocks and let center employees know you want their ideas. Ideas have been lost because the process for getting them to the right person was cumbersome. Good ideas should be able to get through immediately. Reward your staff for the ideas that are used.

Communicate via Work Improvement Meetings

Treat your employees to breakfast or lunch – with one stipulation: they must discuss ways to improve productivity. This often works well when you can mix people from different work teams, departments, or divisions to get fresh input from those who aren't mired in detail.

ALLIANCE's Quotable Quotes on Leadership:

• The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw
• We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. - Epictetus
• Communication works for those who work at it. - John Powell
• Communication is the real work of leadership. - Nitin Nohria