Menjaga Motivasi Tim Bagi UMKM dan Startup

The business situation for small, micro and medium enterprises (MSMEs) or startups is not always easy. There are many things that need to be done in order to always adapt to changes and developments over time. It is important to maintain a team that can contribute as a whole so that the business can develop well.

According to the Harvard Business Review, there are three negative motivations that often cause a decline in performance and this has increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Emotional stress and economic stress are surging as people worry about losing jobs, paying rent, and protecting their health.

The barrage of news, questions about how to get groceries safely, and fears for the safety of relatives are also distressing. Not a few people also question their efforts to survive so that their inertia in working will increase.

No matter what form it takes, work always happens for a reason. According to Joey Hodges in a Forbes article, there are five simple ways to keep and encourage a team to stay motivated on an ongoing basis.

1. Listen to each other

Everyone wants to feel like they have a voice and perspective that is well heard. This does not have to be done through one-on-one meetings or team meetings. Giving your team the opportunity to provide input can be a way to instill a sense of ownership that is a key component of intrinsic and lasting motivation.

However, it is important to listen actively. Take care to recognize employee contributions and respond to questions or feedback in a timely manner. One positive step is an open-door policy which is beneficial for employees.

2. Keep giving trust

Trust is a two-way street. This is also one of the most unconscious things to motivate employees. People don't leave companies, but they leave people. Yes, in this case it refers to a form of leadership that can be trusted.

The best way to engender trust is frequent and transparent communication. This also needs to be followed up consistently. On the other hand, it is equally important to let your team members know that they are also trusted by their superiors.

Trust is a catalyst for empowering a team. When your team feels empowered, they will be willing to work harder. The same is true between coworkers. It is very important to do daily work well because collaboration is an important key in empowering a team.

3. Set deadlines and don't move them

The best way to motivate people is to give them goals to achieve. When someone is doing a job, it is important to always know about something they can do to improve whether it could be a promotion, salary increase, or other achievement.

Convey an outline and accompanied by clearly written metrics for achieving certain progress. When a target has been successfully achieved, be prepared to provide rewards for the achievements that have been achieved by employees.

4. Helps self-development

Recognize and support the development of your team members' interests. For some people, this may provide an opportunity to land an interesting project. In the world of marketing and communications, there are also those who have a desire to work with certain types of clients who utilize their personal passions. Motivation can be given in the form of opportunities or incentives for their achievements.

5. Work flexibly

In today's competing obligations and priorities, people value flexibility more than ever. When someone is privileged, they will work more diligently to respect the rights they have earned.

Anything can be done to help make employees' lives a little easier. Simple things like leaving work early to pick up children from daycare or working remotely to attend a family wedding.

While not every business model can accommodate the same type of flexibility, look for ways to give employees the flexibility they need. This can maintain the principle of work life balance that everyone desires.

The most important thing to remember in managing a team is to know and stay abreast of everything that makes each person tick. After that, find a way to motivate him. As a leader, you must always improve.

Self-development can support a business to survive in uncertain situations. You can get concepts and support systems to keep your business motivated in achieving a goal.