One factor determining whether an organization grows or folds is the commitment, determination, and passion of those working there. Employees are highly valued assets to any organization.
Many organizations know this and can move mountains to get the best hands to join their team. However, there are times when a company is not getting the optimum result even though they have the best hands. In that case, the top management needs to work on how to help their staff unfasten the potential embedded in them.
Here, in this blog, we will share eight ways you can unlock the potential of your employees. Let’s get started!
1. Uncover their motivation
Many things motivate workers, and if you want to get the best out of them, you will need to uncover their motivation and act on it.
Some people prefer a pay rise to a higher position with the same salary. Others are motivated by commendations or awards, while some could be cash prizes for doing a good job. Whatever it may be, you need to know what motivates each worker in your business and act on it occasionally to keep their morale high.
2. Reward good performance
Companies that use performance management systems to check and evaluate workers’ performance should reward those with high performance. Failure to do so will make many hardworking people feel relaxed in their comfort zone since no incentives are given for their extra efforts.
Also, rewarding good performance will not only encourage the person to do better but will also motivate others who underperform to put in more effort since there is a reward at the end of the day.
3. Invest in them
For career advancement and development, investing in employee training is very important. The need for employee development is growing along with the development of technology.
And as things change in your business and there is a new improvement in your business goals and aims, you can invest in training your workers so that their skills will align with these goals and aims. Leveraging Leadar to get access to a comprehensive database of skilled professionals who can come in and coach your workers may be a wise option here.
4. Encourage them
Financial motivation, reward, or promotion may not get workers out of their comfort zone. However, a word of encouragement could.
It could also be that the worker is going through some personal challenges that have made them underperform. In such cases, it is important to speak with them, know what is happening in their lives, and find words or do something to relieve the issue, no matter how small. Do not be that boss who does not care about the well-being of people who work for you.
5. Make them partners
One of the best ways to unlock employees’ potential is by making them partners in the business. Many businesses tend to neglect this area. If you have a stake in an organization, you will put in all effort to see the organization grow because as it grows, you also grow with it.
Some employees would not like to work for a company where salary and awards are the best they can get. When people know they can make partner eventually, even if they have to work tirelessly for many years, they will give their all.
6. Balance their work
Many employers think that workers coming to the office and working 9-5 will bring in more input, but that is not necessarily true. When your best hands are tired from long working hours without rest, they will break down. Hence, the input may be stalled or reduced. Some may even leave the organization if the working hours are too long.
But when you encourage employees to take some time off to rest, they come back to work refreshed and ready to do more. Aside from the time off, you can organize seminars and workshops for your workers on healthy living and lifestyle. It is only a healthy employee that can produce maximum results.
7. Create feedback opportunities
Do not expect a different result when you keep doing the same thing. Sometimes, you and your workers are stuck doing the same thing year in and year out, but you expect better results. That is impossible.
Create an opportunity to give the employees constructive feedback on what they are doing wrong. Some may not get it right or may not know, and feedback will tell them areas to improve. Also, it should be a two-way thing.
Sometimes, your policies could be one of the reasons why their potential is locked. Providing an opportunity for them to give feedback can help unravel decisions from management that have prevented them from working effectively.
8. Be the best leader
No matter the potential embedded inside of your employees, you cannot unlock them if you are not the best leader. People follow and work for people they trust and believe in their leadership. Being a leader means you are ahead. There are things you always need to update yourself about.
Do not assume you know everything. Take leadership courses and HR management courses that will help you improve your leadership style. If you are too busy for such courses, you can hire a team of experienced managers that you can trust to help you handle this task.
Final Thoughts
Unlocking an employee’s potential can produce maximum results in any organization, and motivation in any form can do the trick. When they perform beyond expectation or above their equals, reward them, and in cases where there are changes in your business and the way things are done, invest in them so that they can be trained accordingly.
Do not always be the boss, sometimes be a friend and encourage workers going through personal issues. Another way to help your employees unlock their potential is to get them to be partners in the business, especially for those who have worked tirelessly for the organization.
Balance work with rest, as all work and no play makes Jack dull. Then, provide and get feedback so that all involved can know areas of improvement. Finally, be the best leader all your workers can look up to.
