If you wake up each morning, looking forward to your day in the office, then you're one of the lucky ones – your employer obviously has got it right. But what is the secret ingredient for creating a happy workplace? We ran a poll to see what small businesses thought would best motivate employees.
Treating staff with respect emerged as the top choice. Some 60% of respondents thought that treating people fairly was a key factor in keeping staff energised. Half that number (33%) felt that great rewards and frequent praise would foster a motivated workforce.
And pressure tactics really do not work – particularly in a small business where there are fewer people to take the strain. A minimal 7% of those who entered our poll believed that putting pressure on staff would bring results.
Coincidentally, last week saw the publication of the
UK's Best Workplaces league table. Centor Insurance, with just 38 staff, won the Best Small Workplaces Award 2010. The company have a 'war stories' form for when someone has done something well, or tackled a problem, so that everyone learns from the experience. And senior staff coach junior members when they're preparing for professional exams. So the emphasis is on sharing.
