Lack of motivation to cooperate, what to do?

Work motivation has reached a new low: only 17 % of all employees are still highly motivated, says a study published as recently as the end of May 2023 Job Study. The decline is worrying, because two years ago it was 28 % of all employees. Companies cannot afford to ignore this alarm signal; after all, productivity suffers from a lack of motivation, and so does the company's overall success. Other threatening phenomena such as Quiet Quitting, or Bare-Minimum, the reduction of work performance to the absolute minimum, are also forcing managers to think about new strategies. It's clear that something needs to be done to motivate corporate workforces to perform at their best again. Here are my four steps that will quickly get companies out of the motivation hole:

1. empathic feedback: synchronous or asynchronous

One of the keys to job satisfaction and well-being is empathetic feedback. This doesn't mean the usual once-a-year staff appraisal. On the contrary, regular feedback is needed. While 1:1 phone calls or video conferences might be too intense for, say, weekly or bi-weekly feedback testimonials, digital feedback tools can help provide authentic feedback at specific rhythms. Because regular feedback makes employees feel respected and valued, and that provides the crucial motivation boost!

2. lead by example

According to Nobel Laureate Albert Schweitzer, "Setting an example is not the most important way to influence others. It is the only one." Research supports this statement, showing that people are mostly motivated by the successes of those around them. Ergo, the more we are surrounded by high-performing people, the more we are inspired by their ideas and drive. With this in mind, companies need to focus on recognizing and retaining their top talent accordingly. Special programs for top talents, an active learning environment, access to challenging assignments and new, meaningful tasks are the keys to seeing and seizing one's own opportunities for advancement and thus to boosting motivation.

3. abolish dull routine work and remove the fear of innovation

Pointless searches for files, dull routine tasks or jumping between materials located in different places cost employees a lot of time and nerves. But the tedious sifting through folder structures and documents has come to an end, as has the time-consuming jumping between different tools and platforms: Smart, AI-supported search tools such as the new Dropbox Dash now provide a remedy. If you let automated systems take care of recurring routines, you gain time for new, exciting tasks. Increasing work efficiency and motivation are directly noticeable results.

4. purpose as a motivation booster

For young people in particular, their own purpose is much more than just a buzzword. Studies According to an impressive 72 % of Gen Z are looking for a deeper meaning in their work. Companies must meet this need by consciously living their values and mission instead of just talking about them. Above all, they should give their employees sufficient room to participate, because this can result in a sustainable motivation boost for the entire workforce. Clear communication and skillful leadership are then needed to connect individual strands into a big whole. Only then can all employees join in and perceive themselves as a meaningful part of the company's future.

My conclusion

The company's success is in our hands! With just a few decisive steps, we can sustainably increase the motivation and productivity of our employees. Now it's time to set an example with full motivation in order to actively shape the working world of tomorrow - knowing about the potential of new technologies and with a clear purpose.

Author:

Laura Ryan is vice president of global HRBP teams for the content collaboration platform Dropbox, where she has been working since 2015.