When your business is establishing some long-term goals to work towards, it’s easy for disillusionment to creep in. The progress that you make against that cosmic objective might seem so incremental as to not even exist, making the motivation to continue hard to find. Still, these long-term goals are undoubtedly important to your business and your future, otherwise you wouldn’t have established them. It’s good to know where you’re going, and to get there, you’re going to have to find ways of keeping your team suitably motivated. Create Smaller, Achievable Goals SMART goals are something that businesses all over the world use, and for good reason. Not only are these smaller goals often much more achievable in a shorter span of time (something that can make it easier to become motivated about completing them), but they also are based on something much more tangible and actionable. If you have a goal that is nebulous or somehow lacking in information about what exactly it means or how you’re going to get there, people might not feel compelled to work towards it because they might not know how. On the other hand, if you have something that’s measurable and quantifiable, progress becomes much easier to understand. Define the Long-Term Goal If the goal that you had in mind is to establish a website that is a competitive force to be reckoned with in your industry, everyone on your team might have different ideas about how to get there. So, you might pool these ideas and communicate with your team – hearing everyone out so that you can create a vision of a website that people can feel confident in. Your team might agree that the use of an API platform will help you customize the user experience effectively, or you might hear about how you can increase visibility of the platform in order to increase traffic. It’s valuable to be cautious about the idea of scope creep, a project becoming unworkable due to the sheer influx of new ideas. You have to learn when to say no and keep things concise, but it’s also important to be open-minded to ideas that you hadn’t considered previously. Bonuses and Incentives Even in the best-case scenario, it’s worth remembering that your team members are always going to care about their own lives more than your business. If they feel as though their life might be improved by taking a job somewhere else or putting less focus on work, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t take that route. Therefore, you have to remember that the success of your business isn’t something that’s going to be celebrated equally throughout your team. It alone is not an incentive, and that means that you need to implement some of your own. Bonuses are the most common way to provide this incentive. If you reach certain milestones within your long-term goals, a bonus might be rewarded to your team. Or you might promise that the long-term goal being met will see a hefty bonus granted to your team – either one might have positive...

Being someone’s enemy isn’t exactly what you want to deal with in the workplace. Having a conflict, misunderstanding, or just even rubbing someone the wrong way can put even more stress into your work life. Although this is something every working company is going to experience at some stage, you just need to hope that you are not a part of it. If you are a manager, however, then you may be a top contender for this. Being overly disciplined can lead to staff members resenting or disliking you. This can then lead to a lack of cooperation or respect. It is not a good idea to just counteract your discipline with friendliness. Many, usually new, managers are too afraid to apply discipline for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. Although you might be everyone’s’ friend, it could harm the business. A lack of discipline is something that causes lots of cracks and issues throughout any business. Employees start taking things for granted and their working mentality might be affected. Finding a balance between the two is hard. However, it is something you should strive for in your manager role. Acting in the following manners can help you to apply this. Setting Rules and Protocols From the first day that you are the manager, it is time to get started on this balance. One of the best early decisions you could make is setting rules and protocols within the company. Having a strict list of rules means that you won’t have to make too many disciplinary judgement calls. If someone breaks the rule and the discipline has already been stated, then no one can judge you for being too harsh – you are just abiding by the rules. This can also be the case for the likes of routine checks. You don’t want to feel as if you are targeting employees, so having a scheduled check for everyone can help to avoid this. An example of this could be routine drug and alcohol testing. Start each week by using mobile drug testing that comes to you in your business. Being consistent with this means no one will feel targeted. Hearing Employees Out Employees are not going to agree with everything you say. Although these disagreements are common, you shouldn’t presume they are wrong just because you are the manager. Doing this will bridge a gap between employee equality, and your workers may feel belittled. So, in any instance from appealing a dispute or even just a suggestion, make sure you are hearing people out with open ears. Being Friendly When you are not disciplining someone or needing to act at your most professional, try to be as friendly as you can. Making small talk in the canteen is not going to affect the productivity of your business. What it might do instead is show employees that you are not such a bad person, even if you have had to apply discipline in the past....

Many people are working from home these days. If you are managing a team remotely, it can be hard to keep them motivated. Here are five easy ways to help your staff stay positive, productive and focused during the uncertainty of homeworking. Invite Open Conversation The COVID-19 pandemic has made times difficult for many people, and it is hard to remain positive all the time. With this in mind, it is a good idea to encourage open conversation with your staff. Tell your team that you are available to talk if they are having any problems. Make time to set up one-on-one meetings with everyone to check in with them. Some people now have to balance home-schooling with work and family commitments, and they might feel they have a lot on their plate. Encouraging an open and honest conversation about any difficulties will make your staff feel like you are all on the same team, and this will keep morale – and productivity – high. Encourage Socialising One of the main benefits of working in an office is the camaraderie that comes from working together. This has all but disappeared for many, so make sure that social activities are still on everyone’s radar. You could have a group video call with cocktails on Friday afternoons to boost everyone’s mood ahead of the weekend. Alternatively, you could set up a weekly game competition. If everyone signs up to bingo sites, for example, you could set up a leader board with a monthly prize for the best player. See what works best for your staff. Trust Your Employees Now that you are out of the office, it might be tempting to check in with staff more frequently to make sure they are getting their work done. This can feel undermining to an employee and can foster a negative atmosphere. The best way to encourage employees to stay motivated is to tell them what you expect and to let them get on with it. If you want regular updates, tell them – but let them come to you rather than always checking in yourself. Your staff will thank you for letting them do their work without being micromanaged. Send Thanks for a Job Well Done If an employee has been going above and beyond the call of duty, thank them with a small gift delivered to their door. A gift card, a box of cupcakes, or even a handwritten note to say ‘well done’ is a great way to make your employees feel appreciated, and they are more likely to want to keep doing well in the future. Be Flexible Many people are now juggling a variety of difficult family commitments from home, and some of your team members may feel they have a lot on their plate, so you should be as flexible as you can. If someone needs to start and finish work earlier to help out with home-schooling, let them. As long as the work is getting done on time and to a high standard, what difference does it make? Give your team the benefit of the doubt and they will be less stressed and more motivated. Everyone has different needs, so listen to your employees and do what you can to alleviate the difficulties of working from home. This will keep morale high and will allow work to continue as normally as...

In the past few weeks, the world has experienced dramatic changes in several ways. The job market has especially been walloped, experiencing job cuts work opportunities being hard to come by.  https://gigster.com/thought-leadership/6-signs-that-the-future-of-work-is-here-today/ Gigster, brings together top talent from all over the world to help companies grow! This article reiterates the fact that “Work from home is the new normal.” How to get your Career Back on Track: The COVID-19 pandemic might put your career on halt for some time and affect you in ways you didn’t expect. You’ll find yourself in the valley of hard decisions. During a crisis, the urge to hide is strong, but instead, it should be an opportunity for positive change. In the place of panic and fear, take this time to prepare for a career comeback. Here are some tips you can use to reinvent yourself in the marketplace once the crisis is over.  Prepare Mentally Most organizations are doing the best they can to retain their employees. Unfortunately,  others may have no option but to let them go. If you suffer a job loss during this time, don’t lose your self-confidence.  Just because one opportunity slipped off your hands doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough for another one. Work on your confidence by analyzing your strong career skillsets. Avoid the temptation to sulk or hold a pity party for yourself.   Gauge Your Career Options Picture Credit: Pixabay When there’s a national or global economic turndown, it’s essential to be realistic and well-informed about your career options. Do you expect a transition from your current job to another? If, so, consider the types of transitions possible.  Your options include getting a different career within the same industry. You may also look for a similar job in a different industry or change your job and industry altogether. Here’s a great place to get started and you can find one that’s looking for your specific skills or experience. Here, your decision will significantly be influenced by trending job openings. Even as the economy seems to slow down, some industries seem to do really well. Most of them remain unaffected since demand is inelastic to price and income changes.  Don’t Despise a Returnship A returnship is more like an internship that targets experienced professionals. The most significant difference is that you don’t end up back at the bottom of the ladder. It lasts a few weeks to a few months, and your level of experience determines your remuneration. During the returnship, you’ll be provided with extra training and membership. You’ll be in the best position to reacquaint yourself with a new work culture as you improve dormant skills.  Different companies are launching formal returnship programs, and you may as well take advantage of them. It’ll allow you to see if it’s the right career path you want to make. If it is, you might even end up getting hired.  Think Small Businesses Picture Credits: Pixabay Having your mind on small businesses could be in one of two ways. First, you may have tried to get hired by big companies without much success. Large organizations use resume systems that may filter out your resume.  This is where you change your tactics. Express your interest in small businesses looking to hire new personnel. Most of them are willing to take chances, and once you’re in there, your chances of growth are almost guaranteed. Secondly, you might think of creating your own small business. You might think that you need to have tons of money and hire many people. However, use your strong skills to start a business that brings out the best in you without costing you much.  Finally...

Appreciating and rewarding staff’s hard work is the the easiest way to reduce staff turnover and increase morale. Motivate them through these inspirational quotes that are sure to bring a positive change in their mind set.   26 Inspirational Quotes to Motivate Your Employees Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right. —Henry Ford My Life and Work: An Autobiography of Henry Ford The sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on. —Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop Oliver Twist   If I had nine hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first six sharpening my axe. —Abraham Lincoln Team of Rivals   The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me? —Ayn Rand The Fountain Head   When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute. – Simon Sinek Find Your Why   Research indicates that workers have three prime needs: Interesting work, recognition for doing a good job, and being let in on things that are going on in the company. – Zig Ziglar Secret of Closing The Sale   You can have all the potential in world, but unless you have confidence, you have nothing. – Tyra Banks Perfect is Boring   Appreciate everything your associates do for the business. Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They’re absolutely free and worth a fortune. – Sam Walton Made in America   There are only three measurements that tell you nearly everything you need to know about your organization’s overall performance: employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and cash flow. – Jack Welch How to Win in Business and in Life   If you don’t give people a chance to fail, you won’t innovate. If you want to be an innovative company, allow people to make mistakes. – Indra Nooyi Indra Nooyi – A Biography   Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships. – Michael Jordan Motivational Posters   If you think your boss is stupid, remember: you wouldn’t have a job if he was any smarter. – John Gotti Employee Motivation   The best part of going to work is coming back home at the end of the day. Quality is job one. —Henry Ford Ford’s Motivational Quote   If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood and sweat and tears. — Simon Sinek The HR Quote Book    Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it. —Dwight D. Eisenhower 55 Inspiring Quotes   “I’m bored” is a useless thing to say. I mean, you live in a great, big, vast world that you’ve seen none percent of. Even the inside of your own mind is endless; it goes on forever, inwardly, do you understand? The fact that you’re alive is amazing, so you don’t get to say “I’m bored.” —Louis C.K Awesome Quotes for Instagram   “Give a man a fish, and you’ll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll buy a funny hat. Talk to a hungry man about fish, and you’re a consultant.” – Scott Adams Talented Employees Stay Because…   “The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.” – Oscar Wilde 10 Things That will Get You Respect   Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open. – Thomas Dewar Growth Mindset   If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. – Maya Angelou Promote Yourself in...