How to Start and Grow Your Own Cleaning Business
 

MOTIVATING EMPLOYEES

by Gary Goranson

We’ve all learned that when it comes to motivating employees, money alone won’t get the job done.  While it’s true that insufficient income can be a big de-motivator, in surveys we conducted with what we refer to as “successful employees” it was not at the top of the list of items that gave them job satisfaction.  – money actually came in 5^th behind:

1.  Friendly relationship with other team members

2. The support and encouragement they get from the business owner

3.  The hours of work and the fact that it is Monday through Friday, with no nights or weekends

4. The respect they get from the business owner

The fact is that money is perceived to be a fair exchange for the “time” they provide and, as such, is not viewed as a reward.  “If I put in the time, I’ll get paid,” is the general attitude toward monetary compensation.

In my more than four decades of experience in managing and motivating people, I’ve found that most of us tend to work harder for rewards and awards related to specific goals or achievements than we do for money.

Did you ever see an actor get all emotional about getting a check for $20 million for making a movie?  Hardly, but let that same person be recognized by his or her peers and given a trophy worth a couple hundred bucks and that same person breaks down in tears. 

In the time it takes a professional baseball player to put on his uniform, he earns more money in that time than the cost of a World Series ring.  But the sight of a bunch of grown men jumping up and down, hugging each other and in many cases shedding tears of joy when they win THE BIG ONE is another good example of how recognition and glory can move people more than money alone can.

WE ALL CRAVE RECOGNITION AND REWARD.

We need to ask ourselves what we can do to motivate people to, first of all want to do the best job possible, but also to strive to be a top dog on your professional team.

Here a few proven idea that we’ve used over the years to keep people interested in their work and to achieve greatness and recognition – and to help resolve behavioral problems, too.

1.  If you have a tardiness problem, we found one inexpensive and fun way to motivate people to be on time is to play Attendance Poker.  Every morning employees who show up for work on time are given a card.  At the end of the week, each qualifying employee will have a total of five cards.  Very simply, the employee with the best poker hand at the end of each week receives a token prize of $25 (or whatever amount you choose to award). 

2.  Another effective tool is holding a Queen for a Day contest.  This might run for a month or so, and based on various criteria that you determine such as number of cleanings accomplished, dollar volume generated, good attendance record, team efficiency, customer satisfaction/no complaint record…-- and so on, the team with the highest number of points wins Queen for a Day privileges, where they’re picked up in a limo and treated to a great lunch or dinner.  Believe me, when their neighbors see them being picked up in a big stretch limo, that will be worth a million dollars in self-esteem to them.  This also encourages team effort as opposed to just individual accomplishments.

3. Employee or Team of the month awards:  Again based on performance or behavioral goals you want to achieve, you can hand out an award at the end of each month (engraved plaques or small trophies are not expensive) and post a photograph of the winning individual or team in your office as EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH or TEAM OF THE MONTH for all to see, and for the winners to take pride in.

4. Weekend getaway or travel awards:  Many of the folks who work for you have never been to a deluxe hotel or taken a meaningful weekend vacation.  I have found trips to be great motivators both during and following the contest period.  While people may say they would prefer cash to the cost of a little vacation, the reality is when the money is spent, it’s forgotten.  Memories of a good time last forever.

Investing a little time and money on creating opportunities for recognition and reward for your employees is well worth the improved morale and attitude of your staff.  We all know the cost of unmotivated employees in terms of poor quality workmanship and indifference to clients and fellow employees.  Poor morale is a cancer and can infect a lot of people in your organization – it can even affect you.

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