Did you know that research has shown that while money is a motivator for employees, there are many other factors which can influence their productivity and loyalty? The bottom line is that staff who feel appreciated and acknowledged will in turn reap rewards for your business, as they will be more satisfied with their overall working experience.

Let’s face it, we all like to be told we have done a great job! And we are all more likely to do better next time, or aim for higher goals, if we are encouraged in our endeavours. As employers, it can be too easy to get absorbed in ‘running the business’ and forget that our greatest assets are our employees. You may be under the impression that providing more incentives and rewards will cost you money. But there are many no cost ways to increase motivation and retain your staff.

-       Offer the option for flexible work hours. In our age of 24/7 access, there are many tasks which can be done from home or outside of standard business hours. You may be missing out on some highly skilled staff if you insist on everything being done between 9am and 5pm.

-       Acknowledge the journey and say thank you. Not only do we sometimes forget to celebrate achievements, it is also important to provide encouragement as progress is made toward a goal. A simple thank you (for tasks big and small) can go a long way – especially if this is done in the form of a handwritten note.

-       Create some fun moments. This might include ‘casual Friday’ or giving staff a long lunch break once a week or monthly light-hearted ‘awards’.

We all know that finding great employees, and then retaining them, is vital not only for the costs involved in recruiting and training, but also for the impact on productivity. When you have got staff that you want to keep, make sure you do things that will make them want to stay!

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender

Last weekend we took our kids to Westfield Penrith to see the Lego Master Builders, who were building giant figures of Darth Vader and Yoda. The really great thing about this event was that kids (and adults!) were able to build the small ‘bricks’ that would become part of the giant structure.

If we were at home and I asked my kids to build plain old boring bricks, I doubt they would have been enthused! But because they could see that the small black bricks they were making would soon become part of Darth Vader, they were highly motivated.

I couldn’t help but see this as a fantastic analogy for managing staff. Each staff member under your employ is essentially a ‘brick builder’. They are contributing to the bigger picture of your business. But if they have no concept of what they are working towards, they are unlikely to complete their work with enthusiasm and productivity is likely to be much lower.

To paraphrase a popular saying, “If you are a leader and no one is following you, you are just a woman on a walk”. Meaning, in order to lead people in your team, you need to show them the big picture and their part in achieving it.

In addition, for you as an employer, it is a good lesson in how essential your staff are to your business. The ‘Master Builders’ could not have built their giant structures without the smaller bricks being supplied – and so it is with your staff: without them, your business will not succeed. So bring them along on the journey. And remember: “Everything is awesome. Everything is cool when you’re part of a team....” !

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender

You are likely to be aware that the cost of hiring and training new staff is very high. Your business will always benefit from retaining your best employees. Often those ‘best employees’ have that label because they are intrinsically motivated to perform well. But even the ‘best’ employee will drop their performance levels, or even leave your business, if they are not satisfied with their work conditions. Here are some ways to encourage your employees to stay and to show that your staff’s well-being is important to you: 1. Implement health and wellness strategies. Organise a company team for a fun run, place bowls of fruit in the lunch room, implement regular mini breaks away from the computer screen, play music and so on. 2. Introduce volunteering opportunities. Talk to charity organisations in your local area and negotiate activities that your staff could be involved in. This might include out of work hours volunteering, as well as organised activities during work time. This has benefits for your business as a whole (by building links with the community and showing generosity) and can serve as a great team building activity. 3. Provide ‘birthday holidays’. If possible, giving employees an additional day off (or an ‘early mark’) on their birthday is a great way to show your appreciation for them. 4. Celebrate milestones. When a project is completed or your staff have achieved a milestone or perhaps even for no good reason at all, take the time to stop and celebrate. This might be as simple as finishing half an hour early on Friday afternoon for a glass of champagne and canapés, or more elaborate celebrations such as dinner at a nice restaurant.

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender