Errand Solutions’ corporate office is located in downtown Chicago, so it’s no surprise that many of us happen to be Blackhawks fans. And with our team winning the coveted Stanley Cup this year, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about winning performances. The fact is: every successful business is dependent on their employees. But even if you have an outstanding lineup, without motivation, those players aren’t going to win an MVP award anytime soon. So how do you motivate your team members to win? Let’s break it down into three simple periods:
Period 1: Communication
Just like on the ice, a well-powered team needs communication. Even the most skilled player needs constant communication with its teammates to succeed. If your only communication with your employee is through emails, they won’t have the motivation to meet the goals you’ve set for them. Discussing goals face-to-face on a frequent basis is key. However, if your business is like Errand Solutions and has many remote locations, having weekly meetings and daily huddles over the phone is also effective. Wherever you are, your team should feel valued and constant communication is the best way to get that across.
Period 2: Empower them
How could Keith or Kane have made their winning goals if no one had given them the puck? To truly motivate your employees, they need to feel empowered. Whether you let them take over a project or ask for their suggestions and then implement them, there are simple things you can do to give them more authority. For example, in just my first couple months at Errand Solutions, I’ve been given full responsibility for a number of important tasks, including this website. The trust that my supervisors have for my abilities has allowed me to thrive in this new environment.
Period 3: Opportunities for advancement
The Blackhawks continued to dominate because they had a goal in mind: the Stanley Cup. Similarly, your employees need to know they are working towards something as well. If there are no opportunities for advancement in the company, they’ll have no motivation to work hard. Offering training for different skills they’ll need in the future is a great way to show them they’re not working a dead-end job. To fully get this across, it’s important to consistently promote from within. At Errand Solutions, we’re proud of the fact more than half of our leadership team started off in the field.
OT: Keep them happy
If the three periods aren’t enough, there’s always overtime. OT is the place for that extra last-ditch effort in order to get it done now. Incentives are a great way to do this, whether extra PTO or even just a gift card. Errand Solutions frequently has contests and rewards employees with gift cards or movie tickets. However, you don’t have to spend money to thank employees. One of our core values is the power of a “thank you”; simply thanking your employees for the work they do is an easy way to make them feel appreciated.
Another great way to keep employees happy is to help them balance their work-life a little better. Offering a program like Errand Solutions is great motivation, as they know that they can give their full effort at work without sacrificing their free time. For more information on Errand Solutions and ways we can help motivate your employees, give us a call at 312.475.3800 or email us at info@errandsolutions.com.
