Almost any organization, or organism for that matter, needs ongoing attention and care to flourish.
While this may seem like an obvious statement, how many times have you or someone you know worked in an environment where nurturing the employees to perform well, and always strive to do better, with appropriate rewards for doing so, seemed to be an item far down on the company’s list? A proactive forward-thinking corporation will foster a business climate where employees are motivated and enthusiastic about their jobs and their company – and work to help ensure that both are successful.
Discovering employees’ capabilities, and nurturing their direction and growth, encourages them to take control and their productivity to blossom. As Victor Lipman says in his column, ‘Want Motivated Employees? Offer Ample Opportunities for Growth,’ “Employees will always perform at their best when the environment is conducive to growth.”
Plant the Seeds
Starting from the very first contact with a firm, a prospective employee should feel like this may be the place for them – excited to have the opportunity to work there. From the person who answers incoming calls, to the people who interview applicants, a company’s employees should project that they are professional, enjoy their jobs and like their firm – such that others will think that they’re missing out on something by not working there.
Once hired, the onboarding process by management and HR should be a positive and motivational experience. New hires should want to ‘hit the ground running’ – encouraged to help the organization in any way they can from day one. The hiring process can be greatly enhanced through the automation of HR forms and processes using an HR Shared Services solution – not only streamlining the initial phases of acclimation – but also creating more personal engagement throughout an employee’s career (more on that shortly).
Create a Fertile Atmosphere
Career-minded people are looking to work for companies where opportunities for growth exist. Talented professionals usually want to advance in an organization and seek firms where a path for career advancement is offered. But studies have shown that the professional side of things is not the only motivator for employees. An atmosphere of creativity and ‘fun at work’ have also shown to be big factors in whether people choose to work for a firm – from the selection process – through choosing to remain for the long haul. Thus, an environment for personal growth should be considered as well, and a firm would do well to offer and encourage social interaction between employees as another motivator.
Perform Ongoing Maintenance
Maintaining a productive and motivated workforce is an ongoing challenge – one that requires continuous open communication to thrive. All too often, a firm’s ‘best and brightest’ depart for new horizons – and the company wasn’t even aware that any issues existed. Making communication open, honest and ongoing should be a high priority for any organization that wants to retain its experienced professionals. A Personalized Portal with its many ways of communicating news and information directly between the employees, managers, executives and HR professionals of a firm can help ensure that everyone feels that they are being heard – and therefore an important part of the organization. And what’s more motivating and engaging than that?