9 Employee Motivation Strategies and Rewards to Win 2022

Anyone who has ever managed a team knows how difficult it is to sustain a high level of employee motivation. According to a recent Gallup report, only 15% of employees globally are engaged and motivated in the workplace. But if you want to create and sustain a high-performance team, it's essential to find creative ways to help motivate your staff members. As we get into a brand new year, we present some employee motivation strategies for 2022 that you can use at your workplace.

But why is employee motivation important?

Employee motivation is a big part of employee satisfaction. When employees are motivated, they are often more productive, stay with their company longer, and help their company grow. They are also less likely to be mentally stressed. On the other hand, employees who aren’t inspired by their work or workplace might be more likely to look for another job. Research indicates that organisations with engaged employees are 43% more productive.

If your employees leave in search of another job opportunity or if they become unsatisfied with their current job because they feel unmotivated, then you'll end up losing them. Around one-third of employees leave because they feel bored in the workplace and want to find new challenges.  

While there are many ways to inspire your employees to do their best work, you don't want to overlook important factors like workplace rewards and employee motivation strategies that work well with most people. One thing is for sure; employee engagement is not all that complicated.

So, without further ado, let us explore some effective employee motivation management strategies for 2022 that will bring more energy, creativity, and efficiency into the workplace.

How to increase employee motivation

1. Cultivate a culture of teamwork

The remote work has created an army of ‘solo workers’, but there is no substitution for collaboration. High levels of teamwork help companies stay relevant and competitive. A culture of teamwork also cultivates a positive working environment where employees feel like their input matters—which leads directly to higher workplace wellbeing, productivity, and employee motivation.

Managers can use various strategies to cultivate a culture of teamwork. This includes things like assigning tasks that require intra- or inter-departmental cooperation and creating open channels of communication within the team (so that they don’t have to mediate). Leaders can also create informal opportunities for their teammates to bond with each other during or after work hours.

2. Focus on improving communication

Using social media as a platform for communication makes it easier for your employees to connect, collaborate, and share information with each other, and this boosts employee motivation. It also provides you with a way to keep up-to-date on what's going on with your employees across your organisation. If all this seems like a hassle, consider setting up group communications outside of social media—such as an internal newsletter, company wiki, internal messaging system, etc. Decide which ones will work best for you.

3. Appreciate and recognise people’s efforts

When an employee does a good job, it's important to recognise it. Appreciation is a powerful motivator for any employee, but it can often be undervalued. Research shows that people who are recognised and rewarded for their efforts feel happier in general and are more open to constructive feedback. This makes it a value employee motivation strategy. Ensure your team knows that you appreciate their efforts when they do a good job, and go by the old management adage: praise in public, criticise (if needed) in private.

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4. Offer prizes and awards for achievements

While appreciation takes you a long way, rewards can double the motivation. People are far more motivated when they know there's something in it for them, like getting to leave work early on Fridays or being recognised for a job well done.

If you want your employees to work harder and more efficiently, offer rewards or awards for achievements. It can be as simple as giving out merit badges, sports tickets, or pizza coupons for those who hit a certain target. Having contests also help increase employee motivation. Just make sure you have the rules set up beforehand, so everyone knows what they're competing for.

5. Invest in your team's health

Poor health (whether mental or physical) at the workplace can cost organisations dearly. Investing in your team's wellbeing can save you from unnecessary costs down the road. The best part is that it also keeps your employees happy and more engaged. You can use this list of budget-friendly initiatives to get started. Also, make sure that you are sending the right messages to your employees about the importance of workplace wellbeing.  

6. Job security and fair wages

Offering robust job security and fair compensation practices is one of the best ways to keep your employees motivated. It puts them at ease knowing they're going to be taken care of regardless of what happens in your company—and it helps you retain some very valuable assets. This is especially true now that we are living in the age of COVID-19.

When you can promise your employees job security, it instills a sense of trust and comfort that encourages them to stick around.

7. Professional development opportunities

If you want your team to be productive and motivated, you need to give them access to professional development opportunities. Around 33% of workers claim that is the most important factor they consider when accepting a job.

So, offer these opportunities by helping your employees grow their skills through classes, online resources, or other means. You'll both benefit from increased productivity as well as greater employee motivation and satisfaction…which is a win-win situation for all involved.

8. Create staff appreciation days

Everyone likes being appreciated, so it should come as no surprise that regular opportunities for staff appreciation go a long way toward employee motivation and your team motivation.

Organise monthly or quarterly events that publicly recognise your staff members' efforts and accomplishments. This helps employees feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves and contribute to the success of their organisation.

9. Offer vacation benefits or a surprise off-day

As we have mentioned earlier in this article, employee motivation doesn't have to be complicated. You can simply put some extra money in someone's paycheck or take the team out for a surprise lunch or picnic to celebrate an achievement. Or you could give them extra vacation days to take care of their health and family, without waiting for them to tell you how stressed or overworked they have been. The fact that you noticed and cared enough to reach out will be the biggest motivator your colleagues can ask for.

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