How to DE-motivate Your Employees
When you first hire an employee, they are so helpful and interested in learning. In some companies, employees’ morale significantly drops off after their first six months on the job, according to a survey from Harvard Management Update. Enthusiasm is determined in part by work environment. Are you, the boss, helping your employees to be their best? Employee motivation experts say the best way to keep employee enthusiasm moving forward is to “first, do no harm.”
Here are eight demotivators that the National Federation of Independent Business listed.
Public criticism. Pointing out a worker’s mistake in front of others rarely yields a good response. Though some managers think public reproach keeps everyone else from making the same mistake—it usually just makes everyone feel bad.
Failing to provide praise. If employees feel like their hard work goes unnoticed, they’ll start to wonder why they’re working so hard in the first place. Be sure to offer praise, both privately and publicly. Even small things, like a thank-you card or a “good job” email work.
Not following up. Have you ever solicited ideas, asked what employees think about a policy, or asked your team to draft a proposal? If so, be sure to relay the results, even if the ideas or proposals don’t go anywhere. Asking employees for input without acknowledging it shows a lack of respect.
Give unachievable goals or deadlines. Once employees realize they won’t be able to get something done, they’ll think, “What’s the point? I’m going to fail.” Provide goals and deadlines that are challenging, but not impossible.
Not explaining your actions or sharing company data. Just because you hold the cards doesn’t mean you should hide them. Explaining the big management decisions will help employees understand your perspective—and they’ll respect you for it. Likewise, sharing key company data such as revenue and profits validates staff contributions.
Implied threats. If an employee is producing sub-par work, it’s OK to let them know your expectations. But it’s not OK to threaten their job—especially if you’re threatening the entire team in a public setting. A “do this or else” attitude often has the opposite effect when it comes to motivation.
Not honoring creative thinking and problem solving. When employees take initiative to improve something—a company process or an individual task, for instance—don’t blow it off. Instead, take a good, hard look at their suggestion. Don’t ignore it, or you risk losing that employee’s creativity in the future.
Micromanagement. Perhaps the worst demotivator is micromanaging. Employees need to feel trusted and valued to succeed—and micromanaging communicates the opposite.
I always thought that you shouldn’t have to prod employees to do their best. But a little thank you here and there goes a long way in letting them know you appreciate their efforts.
The Money Mom
