Self-motivated employees are what all employers must ultimately work towards. Such employees keep the machinery well-oiled and bring gains for the company. How can employers identify self-motivated employees in their team? Take a look at this checklist of qualities of a self-motivated employee:
- Consistent performers
- Problem solvers
- Innovative
- Result-oriented
- Flexible to change
- Respect deadlines
- Trustworthy
- Positive attitude
Self-motivated employees are indeed a strategic asset for employers. Their commitment and focus on the company's goals can bring higher productivity and increased performance for your business. Self-motivated employees also bring in reduced employee turnover. This saves you from investing time and costs in hiring and training new employees. Little supervision and directions to employees who are self-motivated also leave their managers with more time for critical jobs.
It is said that 80% of your business success can come from 20% of the people you employ. As an employer, it is in your hands to offer a relaxed and happy workplace to your employees and to create a workforce that is highly focused and is as passionate for making your business succeed as you are. Here's what you should do:
Eliminate fear of failure: No employee likes to be criticized for being a failure. In fact, fear can be a big de-motivator that can stop your employees from trying again or trying something out-of-the-box. Encourage your employees to take risks and think beyond the ordinary. Give them space to experiment and to even make mistakes. Their mistakes can prove to be a valuable experience for your company's growth.
Recognize their success: Employee recognition can be a huge motivator for most employees. However, one pitfall employers must watch out for is – money is NOT the only motivator. All employees have their own motivators. These can be in the form of appreciation, opportunity to participate in strategic decision-making, promotion, flexible work-timings, and more. Identify what works for whom and award your employees keeping this is mind.
Empower your employees: Most of the times, owning up a task or a responsibility makes efficient managers out of plain employees. By empowering employees, you give them a sense of purpose and a mission on which they should march forward. Empowerment makes them feel valued in the company set-up, keeping them self-motivated.
Stop interfering: Give your employees an opportunity to do what they think is best for your company. You hired them for their specific skill set. Trust their skills to be better than yours. At the same time, if you don't find their skills in alignment with your company goals and requirements, gently train them towards betterment. By helping them do their jobs better, you are only making your job as an employer easier!
Conclusion: Self-motivated employees bring overall positivity in the company's working environment by pulling up other employees to strive for success and setting higher professional benchmarks. This not only meets the business side of the company, but also creates an amicable working sphere for everyone in your company.
