22 April 2020

How to motivate demotivated employees

woman rests her head in her hand, glasses on her forehead, in a coffee shop next to a notebook.

Satisfied and motivated employees are indispensable for a well-functioning company. Motivating unmotivated employees is not always an easy task. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to know what are the specific grounds The main reasons for their demotivation, as well as the measures that should be implemented and which are the most appropriate to correct this problem. 

Table of contents

How to know if an employee is demotivated

  • Usually arrives late
  • Constantly complains about his work
  • Decreases its effectiveness
  • Leave tasks half-done
  • Resists change
  • He's always in a bad mood.
  • They have conflicts with their colleagues
  • Does not participate in activities outside of work
  • Does not collaborate with the team
  • He is only motivated by the salary

Demotivation within a work team is a problem for a company. Having motivated employees is fundamental for productivity. If we have happy people in our company, they will work harder and better.

Companies with a higher level of employee engagement are able to increase customer loyalty by 50%. Increase their motivation!

The importance of worker motivation in their productivity.

Demotivation within a work team is a problem for any company. Having motivated employees is fundamental to ensuring good productivity from a company. Demotivated employees are less productive and, furthermore, tend to exhibit high turnover in the roles they hold. 

Because of this, motivating unmotivated employees is a fundamental job for any company, as it will be another way to increase the level of satisfaction of its workers and, in this way, manage to increase their productivity and also their profits. 

What to do with a demotivated employee

An employee who doesn't enjoy their work tends to be less efficient. Furthermore, their poor attitude affects others. It creates a bad atmosphere, making colleagues tired and sad.
The most recommended course of action is to prevent these things. Take steps beforehand so that no employee becomes demotivated. When there is no other option, we must follow certain steps: .

How to motivate unmotivated employees

An employee who doesn't enjoy their work tends to be less efficient. Furthermore, their negative attitude affects others too, so they often end up creating a bad atmosphere in the office.

The most recommended thing is to prevent this situation. Taking action in advance so that no employee becomes demotivated in their job is the best recommendation one can follow. However, when a company already finds itself with demotivated employees, it will be necessary to take specific measures to reverse this situation. 

In general, these measures will go through two phases: to know the reason from demotivation and support the employee in order to be able to recover it.

Knowing the reason

Knowing the source of the discomfort is the first step in motivating demotivated employees. The cause can come from one's own work or for an external reason.. If it's for a work-related reason, it's necessary to analyse which circumstances or people have caused it. If it's due to a personal circumstance, you should speak with the employee, look for possible solutions, and facilitate the process as much as possible within the company's capabilities.

Supporting the employee

Once the cause has been identified, we must bring the worker back. We must remember that each person brings something good to the group. Even if they are going through a bad patch, if the unmotivated employee is good at something, we must offer support to regain initial motivation. In this regard, some of the most important guidelines for re-motivating demotivated employees are as follows: 

  • Valuing the employeeMaking them aware of their capabilities and training them in their field and in others where they can feel useful within the company.
  • Set a common goalIt is fundamental that the worker conceives of their activity within the company as something useful and focused on achieving specific objectives for the organisation as a whole. 
  • Assessing the employeeIt is important that constructive criticism is given to the employee. This involves both telling them those things they can improve on and congratulating them on tasks well done. This allows the employee to evolve and develop as a professional within the company. 
  • Setting an exampleAs well as managing, the boss must work closely with the employee. In this regard, the boss must be perceived as a colleague, and not as a distant person with whom no communication can be established.
  • We value your opinionAnother important element when motivating unmotivated employees is to consider their opinion. This involves not only asking for it but also valuing it correctly and including it in the final decision-making, which will make the employee in question feel more integrated into the team as a whole and the company in general.
  • Explain the decisions takenIt is important that managers and directors explain their decisions. This prevents misunderstandings and ensures that all members of the various teams feel like an integral part of the group, rather than mere pawns at the service of their superiors. It is not the same to carry out an activity because “the bosses ordered it” as it is because it is the best decision that could be made based on the people with the most experience and responsibility. 
  • Generating a good atmosphereFostering a good working environment is fundamental to motivating any employee in their job. In this regard, it is essential to encourage fluid communication and Work-life balance. This fosters the right synergies that, together, will increase employee motivation and satisfaction, which in turn will lead to greater productivity on their part. 

In the company. Be kind and funny when appropriate. Be concerned about employee conditions. Strive for unity. Be a united front.

Edenred Spain