The Effect of Work Motivation on Employee Performance

In this competitive era, every brand is struggling to build a distinctive identity. Firms are adopting various tactics for boosting productivity, and motivating employees is one of them. Some organisations aim at increasing productivity through immense competition, while others create a teamwork environment to get the best from employees.

Therefore, there is no fixed formula for driving performance, as every strategy is designed according to a different situation. One thing is for sure; motivating employees is effective in enhancing performance.
Person typing on a laptop with one hand and holding a mobile phone in the other.
Since motivation is directly related to behaviour and positive action, it lets employees work with more passion. Following goals can be achieved by a well-motivated staff:
  • High-level of productivity
  • Low turnover and absenteeism
  • Enhanced creativity and interest
  • Increased customer and employee satisfaction
  • Improved quality of products and services
  • Enhanced financial performance
  • Improved company profile

From recognition and praise to rewards and incentives, there are various methods of motivation. Each method is in direct relation to performance. It means a higher motivational level brings higher performance.
Let us learn how various methods of motivation affects employee performance:
 

1. Individual Rewards

Target-based jobs are a new trend in the corporate world. This tactic helps create a sense of completion among employees. At the end of the month, a high-achiever is rewarded with incentives and bonuses. This has a direct impact on productivity, as every employee struggles to reach the target.
For instance, a newly established firm started door-to-door marketing. Employees getting 20 or more orders are given 10% extra of their fixed income. This encourages every employee to give their best in influencing the potential clients and getting the orders.

2. Group-Based Recognition

Throwing a party, distributing meals, or arranging picnics is another strategy adopted by well-known firms. Firms set some group-based objectives and give rewards on achievement. For instance, a content writing firm has set an objective of delivering 10,000 product descriptions in a month without compromising on quality. If the target is achieved in a month, employees are given a grand dinner at a five-star restaurant.

Thus, employees realise that by achieving the targets, everyone will get a reward. Therefore, collaboration, teamwork, and productivity increase. Similarly, many firms appreciate working in small teams. One big objective of the firm is chopped down into smaller ones. Each objective is assigned to one team. It is similar to having multiple departments.

At the end of the year, the performance of every department is evaluated. Department showing the best performance is motivated either by recognition or reward. For instance, giving the best department award or announcing an additional facility for the department workers.

3. Reinforcing the Purpose

The tradition of just telling the business purpose on orientation day is forgone. Today, business organisations keep reinforcing the purpose by arranging regular workshops and seminars.

With continuous training and development, firms educate the employees about the latest methods for achieving business goals. Besides this, the purpose of business also gets revised, which motivates the employee to achieve collective goals. This, in turn, increases employee performance.

4. Calculating Monthly Feedback for Yearly Incentives

Most firms announce yearly increments for motivating their employees. This is a way of letting employees know about their growth. Though a yearly increment is usually fixed for all employees, some increments are based on performance.

For instance, a five-star rating in the monthly evaluation may qualify an employee for a higher incentive. This helps in keeping employees on track. Since they know they are going to get an increment, they work hard to improve performance.

5. Encouraging Vacation Time

Though money is a driving force for many employees, others consider extra facilities like medical, sick leaves, vacation, and career growth.  Modern-day firms firmly believe in maintaining a balance between work and family.

Therefore, family vacation leaves are given for motivating employees. When workaholic employees get off and enjoy valuable time with family, they return with an intense passion for showing brilliant productivity.

6. Boosting Employee Voice

Working in a firm in which employees face dictatorship affects badly on performance. Firms are now focusing on teamwork and consider employees as an asset. To give importance to their employees, firms take many steps like taking feedback for a new change, asking for suggestions on an idea and listening to employees. These steps encourage employees and motivate them to provide positive contributions to the company.

Additionally, it lets employees to work with free mind. An environment where employee-voice is encouraged gives courage and confidence to every employee. They feel their worth and try to put intense creativity in their work.

This is the reason why a prime focus on employee-engagement strategies is essential. The absence of such strategies makes the employees feel disengaged, resulting in a lack of motivation.

7. Giving Positive Feedback

Feedback is important, no matter what the task is. Employees will never feel motivated without feedback. Having a yearly bonus is not enough to bump up the motivational level. Regular motivational tactics are essential to energise employees' minds with motivation.

For instance, giving feedback after every project is essential for letting the employees avoid future mistakes. Besides this, this strategy is a big contributor to motivating employees.

8. Opportunity To Lead

Financial gains look like a big motivator, though they are not always the tool to motivate. Employees of the 21st century look for opportunities to lead, grow, and polish their skills. If an employee is standing in the same position even after spending five valuable years, his motivational level will be zero.

However, if an employee has joined the firm as a trainee, and now after five years, he is working as a team leader, his motivational level will rise. It is because employees realise their career growth and achievements. Therefore, they perform better to get higher positions for the future.

Wrapping It Up

Undoubtedly, work motivation has a great impact on performance. Absence of motivation results in poor customer service, high turnover, poor quality of products, and so on. Therefore, motivating employees through incentives, rewards, career growth, employee engagement, and feedback puts a positive impact on performance. In short, it is a win-win strategy.
Author: Myrah Abrar is a computer science graduate with a passion for web development and digital marketing. She writes blog articles for  Carpet Cleaning in London

Key words: Project management, Motivation, Management Culture, Psychology

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