Motivation at workplace

Samarjit Kambam *

Due to hectic schedule, datelines and timeframes at workplace, stress and strain build up and thus employees of a firm, organisation, department or institution feel that they are not motivated at work. Most employees held their bosses or employers responsible for their lack of passion or 'thrust' for the job in which they are engaged.

Inspiration or encouragement in any form at the work place is of paramount importance for the overall growth of an employee as well as for the organisation. It need not only be in terms of appreciating the work done or providing the employees with various perks and privileges but through the way the employers or bosses deal with their employees and the relationship being managed to build with them.

Motivating an employee is achievable through continuous appreciation, logical goal-setting and offering skill upgradation opportunities to him or her from time to time. The employer or boss should continue to motivate their employees so that they work happily on a regular basis and add value to the organisation.

It is important to ensure that employees are motivated enough in their job so that the employers can trust and ensure them with work and make them more responsible. It increases efficiency at work and also adds value to the organisation. A demotivated employee can drag the morale of the entire team, which affects the organisation, department or company in the long run.

A person goes through upheaveals in their day-to-day life. To help cope better at work, encouragement is very important. It helps an employee strive to do better at his job. Everybody needs a mentor or somebody to look up to at their workplace, so that they can be shown the right path. There are many who have the potential to shine but lack focus.

In such cases, it is necessary to have someone who is there to inspire and guide you. The managing authority should organise motivational programmes where employees can freely interact and share their problems with their superiors. Outbound team building trips and frequent communication sessions are some positive means or ways to motivate employees.

When people are stressed at work, it tends to make them less productive. It hampers their confidence and lowers general morale at the workplace. All these factors further add to the dissatisfaction of the employee. An organisation or institution that invests in activities viz team building exercises, outdoor programmes and employee engagement activities inspire workers and send a strong message that it cares about their emotional and mental well-being. Such activities keep employees creative, charged and driven.

The returns on investment in an employee are multi-fold; they cut down attrition, they are happier, their family gets happier and enjoy healthier interpersonal relationships. Their sense of achievement gets higher. They function with renewed enthusiasm and spirit.

We spend most of our days in our respective workplaces. Though work stress and issues are inevitable, efforts can be made to make this time spent in office as enjoyable as possible. Organisations today recognise the importance of having a good working atmosphere and strive towards creating an easygoing relationship with their employees.

So the terms such as 'Emotional Intelligence' are cropping up and emotional intelligence tests are being carried out in multinational companies to monitor the feel or 'taste' of their employees as productivity of employees with negative emotions goes down. Sessions are usually carried out so that employees possess positive emotions which is one of the most crucial factor in the progress of the company.

In a fast-paced work environment, challenges and opportunities co-exist. A cordial work atmosphere provides employees with a better platform to express themselves and allows their personality to evolve. It positions employees to better deal with stressful situations and tackle challenges with greater optimism and enthusiasm.

While day to day deliverables eventually depend upon team effort, a cordial atmosphere helps build trust and ensures a free exchange of information and ideas within team members, thereby ensuring quick decision-making. At the same time, having cordiality does not mean that work is not taken seriously in the office.

It is essential to strike the right balance or 'chord' between fun and work in the organisation's culture thereby aiming towards attaining the level of equilibrium wherein the employees are offered numerous recreational activities and simultaneously having firm norms to maintain the quality of work. Employers should seek support from their employees and vice versa as their contribution towards both is equally important to successful maintenance of an organisation.

Even small initiatives can work wonders towards lightening the atmosphere at work. Employers or bosses need to loosen up and be friendly with their team members. A trend which is hardly seen in most organisations. It isn't that an employee hasn't got the decency to come forward and open his heart to his boss.

The reality is that in the official ambience, a fear for the superior is always associated with the subordinate. It is not physical fear nor inferiority complex but a mindset inculcated to the employee since day one of his joining the institution, sort of an occupational hazard. The employer or boss need to have a clear understanding in this perspective and an openness in employer-employee relationship can be considered as a healthy trend in smooth functioning of any organisation.

Micro-managing and overly controlling the employees' actions and watching their every steps can make them feel discouraged and insecure. Strictness may not be bad per se, especially if it results from the employer stressing on things that are for the true benefit of the employee or work.

However, if a boss' or employer's strictness is habitual and a reflection of his controlling and egoistic nature, it can demoralise his entire team employees. At their core, employees are talented and sensitive; a cheerful and respectful attitude from their bosses is all what is required to bring their potential to full bloom.

But one thing, when employees are not motivated at work, they tend to blame the organisation or the boss which is usually not justified. So, motivation is not a 'one way road'. An employee also needs to look for motivation and inspiration within himself and realise that it is his own drive and passion for work that should motivate himself to perform well for 'self appreciation is the highest form of inspiration'.