3 Surefire Ways to Inspire Employees to Achieve Extraordinary Results for Your Business

13 Apr 3 Surefire Ways to Inspire Employees to Achieve Extraordinary Results for Your Business

The Industrial Revolution fueled economic growth, introduced free enterprise, and provided more opportunity to Americans as the need for more workers in factories skyrocketed. Unfortunately, however, typical workdays during this era involved employees performing repetitive tasks for long hours. Workers generally were not required, or sometimes even allowed, to make decisions about the work they were doing day to day.

With the introduction of information technology into our everyday lives in the late 20^th century, the Knowledge Age was born. Unlike the Industrial Age, workers today are expected to use analytical skills to solve, and even anticipate, problems. Decision making in business has evolved from the responsibility of a just a few people at the top and is now the duty of most everyone from the front line to the C-suite.

The decisions that people make every day can have profound effects on business results. In order to achieve the best possible results, people must be given a framework to understand what the organization is trying to do, they must be committed to the organization’s success, and their work must be aligned with the goals of the company.

Here are 3 proven ways to inspire employees to help your company achieve extraordinary business results.

Communicate the Strategy. After business leaders define success and what it means to the company, employees across the organization should participate in creating the strategy for achieving success. Once the strategy is solidified, it should be continuously communicated to every employee. Employee involvement in strategy execution should become a part of the fabric of the organization. Because strategies must evolve and change as business environments transform, changes to the objectives and/or initiatives that make up the strategy need to be broadcast quickly and effectively throughout the company.

Make a Commitment to Employees. Amazing things happen when employees are committed to their company’s success. That commitment won’t come unless it is earned. And the best way to earn it is to first show employees that the company is committed to them. That means relentlessly showing, not just telling, employees that the company has a vested interest in their individual success. Once employees know without a doubt that the company they work for cares about them, radical transformations will follow as they become more engaged, loyal, and productive. Happy employees will actively promote your company to everyone around them, which will attract even more great talent to your company.

Align Employee Initiatives with Overall Strategy. People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Most people aren’t in it just for a paycheck. They want to know that the work they are doing provides value and has a positive impact all around them. Employees are instantly demotivated when they are doing work that has no meaning and doesn’t provide value, or if they just don’t see the value. It is imperative that business leaders align the work that employees are doing day to day with the important things that drive success.

The business environment in the Knowledge Age is one where the line between an employee’s individual success and that of the company is increasingly blurred. A better business environment means that employees are happier. Happier employees are more productive, loyal, and engaged, which drives even more positive change. The cycle is never-ending. Everybody wins.