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Motivation at work - How to motivate yourself properly

Motivierte junge Geschäftsleute in einem Start-up

Laura Hofstetter |

Gallup's annual Engagement Index study also showed in 2018 that employees largely lack motivation. Around five million of them, which makes up 14 percent of all employees, have no internal connection to the company and have already completed the job for themselves. However, without employee motivation, no company can operate profitably.

Table of Contents

  • Motivation in the workplace: This is where the problems come from
  • Motivate employees: Provide appropriate office equipment
  • Motivation at work: exercises for self-motivation
  • Conclusion: Increase motivation in the office

Motivation in the workplace: This is where the problems come from

Can the workplace and superiors be responsible for motivation or does motivation to work have to come from within? The Economic Psychological Society has dedicated itself to the topic of motivation for work and described it as a kind of internal source of energy. This energy drives people to do something specific and achieve goals. This in turn is based on certain motives, which can consist of social contacts, a higher position in the company or self-realization. A distinction is made between extrinsic motivation, which is influenced by the environment, and intrinsic motivation, which is based on the enjoyment of one's own activity. This means that work must be fun and an employee should be internally convinced that what they are doing is really good and right.

Many managers believe that motivation at work can be sufficiently positively influenced with a high salary, a big company car or other financial benefits. But even if everyone wants to be paid appropriately and as well as possible, something else plays a role in motivation in the office: praise and recognition for the work performed are just as important. Besides, there is no concentrated work possible if the workplace is not optimally set up. When concentration is constantly disturbed, motivation for work ultimately suffers.

In summary, the following negative factors influence motivation at work:

  • too low pay
  • lack of recognition
  • no fun at work
  • no personal goals
  • negative work environment
  • no ergonomic office equipment

Motivate employees: Provide appropriate office equipment

It is now known that the optimal desk height has just as much influence on the work behavior of employees as a suitable one Office chair or the Acoustics in the office. In order to increase motivation for employees, it is important that they feel comfortable at their workplace. Nice colleagues are by no means everything, because they too Office furniture are important. The desk must meet ergonomic requirements and be suitable for the work to be carried out on it. The optimal seat height of the chair should be just as obvious as the adjustment options for the backrest. This won't just be that Well-being in the workplace significantly improved, but it can also have a direct influence on the motivation of employees. They are internally happier and get the feeling that their superiors value their well-being and theirs Health at work lays. Those who enjoy going to work are more motivated at their desk, complete tasks more efficiently and thus contribute directly to the success of the company. By improving employee motivation, you can kill several birds with one stone!

Motivation at work: exercises for self-motivation

The following tips can help improve motivation at work. Everyone has to try out for themselves which point is personally suitable and whether the tips can be compatible with their own work.

The following is helpful for more motivation to work:

Put tasks aside
Not all tasks that seem unloved at first glance need to be completed immediately. Some things are not important and can be dealt with later. Some employees take exactly the opposite approach and do the unloved activities first and then jump into the things that are fun with motivation.

Create to-do lists
It's helpful to create a to-do list. What work needs to be done today? Large projects should be separated into small steps so that the progress of the work can be better monitored.

No more negative statements
“I don’t feel like it” or “I don’t want to do this” should be eliminated from the vocabulary. A little mental training is certainly necessary to see an unloved task as a challenge. But once you have completed this, you can move straight on to the next point.

reward
Motivation at work can be increased with a reward. When a critical project has been completed, it's worth taking action with the entire team. Perhaps it is also a private venture that can be undertaken after a goal has been achieved? Maybe a shopping trip or dinner with your partner?

Nothing helps and the motivation is gone Desk If it cannot be increased at all, a break is helpful. This doesn't have to be a sabbatical, a day off or a coffee break when there isn't really time for that can be enough. Motivation at work returns very quickly, at least when the big picture is right: working environment, office equipment and work content.

Conclusion: Increase motivation in the office

Various factors play a role: The workplace, work content, colleagues and the behavior of the supervisor must be right for motivation. Praise and words of appreciation are often more important than financial incentives. In addition, office equipment should not be forgotten, as it is largely responsible for well-being and health and therefore motivation at work.