K. MacKillop, a serial entrepreneur, is founder of LaunchX and authors a small business startup blog. The LaunchX System is designed to help entrepreneurs start a business. Visit LaunchX.com to learn more about adding employees to your business startup.
A good number of workers are motivated, at least in part, by external approval and reputation. Most people are concerned with how others view them, and positive attention and accolades can go a long way in inspiring these folks to do their best work. Incorporating feedback and appreciation for a job well done is an important piece of your overall motivation strategy.
At the core of external motivation is attention. Workers driven by reputation tend to be dependent on receiving attention. Often, if they are unable to earn it in a positive manner, they will become disillusioned and unproductive, and may even act out in an attempt to garner any attention -- even negative. As a business owner, it is important to remember that your employees are the key to your long-term success, so any and all efforts that produce positive results should be acknowledged.
To keep reputation-driven workers motivated, it is necessary to provide individual attention and acknowledgement. Successful entrepreneurs make a point of including these factors into the overall culture. Making your support staff feel valued should be a given. Make a point of publicly acknowledging good work but privately dealing with criticism or poor performance. Provide clear guidelines of expectations for every employee and offer frequent, honest feedback of the work being done. Consider implementing recognition programs (employee of the month) or giving awards for specific accomplishments. Be sure the recognition is actually meaningful -- don't just rotate the awards through the staff to be "fair" -- or they will have no value to the recipients.
Incorporating appreciation systems into your company culture is necessary and will pay off in spades. Not only will reputation-driven employees thrive, but the entire staff will feel appreciated and needed. A staff that is treated well will be loyal in return.
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