JOBTALKS

Motivating and Rewarding

Employees

Indiana University
Kelley School of Business
C. Randall Powell, Ph.D
 Motivating and
Rewarding Employees

Discussion Session
Topics Covered
 Hallmarks of a Motivated
Workplace
 Motivation Myths
 Motivation Tips

 Keeping Yourself Motivated

 What Motivates Employees

 Motivational Toolbox
 Things That Don’t Motivate
 Hallmarks of a Motivated
Workplace
 Commitment to results and
responsibility for actions
 Open communication
 Low employee turnover
 Creativity and ingenuity, especially in
solving problems
 Collaboration
 Excellent customer service, both
internally and externally
 Motivation Myths:
 Everyone is in agreement in a motivated
workplace
 Motivated employees work plenty of
overtime
 Employees who are motivated don’t need
much input from management
 A formal plan for motivating employees is
unnecessary
 Money motivates best
 Why Motivate
Employees?
 The High cost of employee
turnover

 Maintaining the competitive edge

 Happy employees keep clients

happy
Attitudes are contagious.

Is yours worth
catching?
 In a poll by Robert Half
International,
25% of HR executives said that a
lack of recognition is the most likely
reason a good employee would
leave a job.
 Motivation Tips
 Offer a positive work environment
 Keep lines of communication open

 Provide opportunities for

advancement
 Have fair compensation packages

 Recognize and Reward your

employees
 Encourage teamwork
To Motivate Others,
You Need to be
Motivated
Stay Upbeat and Positive
 Laugh it up (Appropriate Humor)
 Be cooperative and approachable
 Practice open communication
 Stay calm
 Be part of the solution, not the problem
 Choose your friends
 Share good news
Finding Personal Motivation
 Take pride in your work
 Practice good time-management skills
 Pat yourself on the back
 Indulge your passion, whether at work or after
hours
 Take classes to indulge your creative side
 Make time for friends
 Do something totally different from your work
 Relax over the weekends
 Take a vacation
 Change your routine, get a different perspective
 Pay attention to your health
 Lead by Example
 If you are in a position of authority,
you’re a role model-whether you want
to be or not.
 Your actions and demeanor set the

stage for others.

 People will look to you as the

example of what is expected.

 Actions speak louder than
Words
 Come back on time from lunch
 Honor deadlines and commitments
 If something comes up and you can’t attend a
meeting, arrange for someone else to take your
place
 Make sure that you show up for work each day
 Offer to assist when you can
 Show you really care by remembering birthdays,
taking employees out to lunch on occasion, and
regularly thanking them for a job well done
What motivates employees?
 Different things motivate different
people
 People want to use their talents, skills

and knowledge
 People want to do something

rewarding and intrinsically valuable

 Your Motivation
Toolbox
 Balance
 Benefits
 Communication
 Compensation
 Corporate culture
 Recognition and rewards
 Responsibility
 Teamwork
 Training and promotions
 REMEMBER!

What motivates you

doesn’t always motivate
your staff.
 Balance
All work and no play makes
Jack a grumpy employee.
 Benefits
Money isn’t everything
Insurance
Retirement plan
Incentives
 Communication
It’s not just about what YOU
have to say.
Employees have opinions too!
Corporate Culture
What’s it like to work for your
company?
 Recognition and
Rewards
 Public Recognition
 Money

 Company Awards Programs

Responsibility
Learn to Let Go and
Delegate
 Teamwork

Collaborating=Success
 Training and
Promotions
Training=professional growth
 Things That Don’t
Motivate

 Personal Attacks
 Embarrassing

 Governing by Fear

 Shouldering All Responsibility

 Overworking Employees
Motivating and Rewarding Employees
Evaluation Questions
USE:
a. Strongly
agree 1. I found the presentation material
b. Agree easy to understand.
c. Disagree
d. Strongly 2. This Advantage session increased
disagree my knowledge of the subject presented.
e. Don’t know
3. I will be able to use some of the
information from this session in the future.
4. The presenter was well prepared for this Advantage session.

5. This presentation should be repeated in future semesters.

If you would like
to learn more,
Career
Planning
Strategies
textbook will
supply additional
information on
this topic.