Reasons why Even the Best Employees Lose Motivation

By Business Desk

Thursday, April 13, 2023.

If you want to ensure that your company is a success as much as possible then the first thing you need to do is focus on your team. Your team are the backbone of your company and if you do not take the time to listen to them then this will work against you. Over time, you may end up losing some of your best workers and this is the last thing you need. One way for you to work around this would be for you to understand why your team end up losing motivation, so you can then take steps to combat it properly.

Lacking Flexibility

Believe it or not, work-life balance is a way more visible issue with the millennial generation. Talk with your team and find out if the hours that they are working, suit their lifestyle. It may be that your team want more generous time off, or that they want to start working more flexible working hours. If you do not give your team a chance to work a schedule that suits them then this can lead to burnout as well as a lack of job satisfaction. Eventually, team members will lose their motivation to work and they will seek other opportunities.

Short-Term Objectives

In most cases, money is only a small part of an employee’s motivation. A lot of people want to have a clear objective in place for their career and they want to see how they can move up the corporate ladder. If you are always bringing in people to work your higher positions rather than promoting people from the bottom then this will lead to low motivation. You need to make sure that people are proactively working toward goals and you also need to set milestones for them where possible. If you can do this then they can see where all of their hard work is going and you can also help them to achieve everything that they want, with ease. 

Not Feeling Valued

If your team feel as though they are working hard, but they are not having their efforts recognised then this will lead to a high level of dissatisfaction. They will soon lack the energy to celebrate the success they do achieve, and this can again, lead to low motivation. If you want to do something about this then you need to try and give credit where it is due. Even if it is just a pat on the back, you need to make sure that you are supporting your team and that you are rewarding their every achievement. If you can do this then you will soon see that it’s easier than ever for you to put the spring back in your team’s step.

No Chance for Development

Sure, promotions are important, but at the same time, you also need to make sure that you are actively supporting their development. One way for you to do this would be for you to work with them and provide regular opportunities. The great thing about this is that you can give them the motivation and engagement they need to continue with their learning journey. If a workplace feels somewhat stagnant and uninspired then your team’s motivation will dwindle. If you can, take the time to get feedback from your team so you can find out where increased training is required and if there is anything you can do to support their professional development. If you can do this then you can help them to gain the skills they need to further themselves and be promoted within the company.

Poor Leadership

Effective leadership is a huge factor when it comes to the general motivation of your team. If you have strong leadership then this is great, but if it is negatively affecting your team then this could leave your team feeling demoralised. Leaders have to make sure that they communicate clearly and that they do what they can to instil focus, as well as confidence. If a team or individual is lacking motivation then this could be down to poor leadership, and therefore, you have to try and make changes from the top down. If you can do this then you will soon see an improvement in how hard people work.

Conflict

Another major issue that you have to look out for when it comes to your team is conflict. Conflict in the workplace is very detrimental. Healthy debates can be productive but at the end of the day, you still have to make sure that you keep an eye out for workplace bullying or intimidation. Some employees may feel concerned about reporting issues to another colleague and this is understandable, so you need to do what you can to reveal any problem areas by conducting an anonymous employee survey. If you can do this then you are bound to see positive results with your team’s motivation.

Too much Work

You have to make sure that you check on your team and that you take note of the demands that are being placed on them. If someone happens to feel overburdened or if they feel as though they have an impossible workload then they may end up feeling disillusioned and stressed. This can result in them losing motivation overall which is the last thing you need. If you want to help your team then it is a good idea for you to have a chat with them. How can you lessen their responsibilities? It may be that you can help them to work faster and more efficiently by simply investing in a stand desk, so make sure that you keep that in mind if you want them to get the best result out of the hours they have in the day. 

No Purpose

Instil an inspiring purpose for your team. Your employees and the enthusiasm that they have for the role is dependent on it. They need a reason to be there and they need to know their place within the company. You need to make sure that they have a reason to be there beyond the paycheck they are bringing home, and if you cannot provide them with this then this could have very detrimental effects going forward. Every manager should be able to express a purpose and they should also be able to motivate the team to achieve goals, through the self-confidence they have. If your team feel as though anyone could do their job because they lack responsibility or if they do not feel as though they have a defined role then this could have monumental consequences.

Commanding Leadership 

Incorporating a commanding leadership style is a surefire way to demotivate your business team. Instead, you have to make sure that you are redefining your role. At the end of the day, it is your job to facilitate your team getting the job done. You don’t do this by micromanaging them and by pushing them to get their projects in on time. Instead, you ask them what they need and you advocate for them accordingly. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to motivate them and you may even find that they feel more supported in the workplace, so make sure that you are mindful of this and that you are always showing you are enthusiastic about helping others. 

So as you can see, there are many ways to provide your team with the motivation they need to get the job done. Why not see if you can give your team a boost today?