What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning, head to the office (whether it’s downtown or down the hall), and put in a productive day of work?
This question will have a slightly different answer for everyone, but we all depend on motivation to help us get through the workday.
It often falls on managers to come up with clever or creative ways to motivate flexible workers. While that can be challenging when working with people who are in nearby cubicles, it can be even harder when those employees have flexible schedules or work from remote locations.
Fortunately, motivating people doesn’t have to be complicated, overwhelming, or expensive. In fact, remembering to use these five key phrases could go a long way toward improving the motivation of all your workers, whether they’re in the office during regular hours or working flexible hours hundreds of miles away.
Motivate Flexible Workers with These 5 Phrases:
1. “Thank you.”
Showing gratitude is the most obvious way to motivate people and probably also the most important. That goes double for flex workers, who may suffer from “out of sight, out of mind” syndrome.
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As mentioned in an article on the Undercover Recruiter website, showing gratitude can take many forms. “It doesn’t have to be a super grand gift or a lavish meal out for the team that shows how much you appreciate their work,” the site said. “Simply telling them that you’re thankful can often be the most meaningful and motivational of gestures.”
2. “How are you?”
When asked by a manager, with sincerity and real interest, this question can be an excellent motivator. It helps people feel like the boss genuinely cares about them and their lives—both at work and away from it.
Again, this is especially important for workers who have flexible schedules or who telecommute. When an employee isn’t always around, a manager can’t pick up on clues from body language or tone of voice to see how the worker is doing. By making a point to engage in this kind of conversation, a manager will build a better connection with that worker. Since people’s relationship with the boss is a primary factor in determining how they feel about their job, the importance of this can’t be overstated.
3. “What do you think?”
This is another phrase that was suggested by the Undercover Recruiter article, and it’s a powerful one. Asking an employee or colleague for an opinion on a project or decision shows that the worker’s knowledge and skills are recognized and valued. As the article says, “Just because you’re the boss or a manager, it doesn’t mean you know everything.”
After asking that question, a manager must truly listen to the response and carefully consider the employee’s input. Not every suggestion will be implemented, but if workers feel like their ideas are constantly ignored or ridiculed, this particular phrase could actually make them less motivated.
4. “You’ve got this!”
All employees want to feel like the boss believes in them. Especially when they are on a flex schedule or working from home, they won’t always have people around to give them encouragement when challenges arise.
Simple expressions of confidence like this can be incredibly motivational, but again, sincerity is the key. If this phrase, or others like it, is not backed up by actions that prove a manager really does believe in the workers, it won’t provide the desired motivation.
5. “Can I help?”
During those times when a simple expression of confidence may not be enough, a boss must be ready to dive into the details. This is a phrase that a real leader will use often, especially when dealing with flex workers who may not have a colleague nearby to provide assistance.
As noted in the Undercover Recruiter article, “If the team is struggling to meet a deadline or having trouble with a certain client, a good boss gets his hands dirty and helps them out. Not only does this ease a bit of stress off the employees, but it also improves relationships between the boss and the rest of the workforce.”
By using these five simple phrases, sincerely and with the proper followup, a manager can help motivate workers, whether they have flexible or “regular” work schedules. The manager will also build better relationships with those employees, which should make them happier and more productive. In other words, when motivation is used correctly, everybody wins.
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What phrases have motivated you the most during your career? What other phrases to motivate flexible workers would you add to this list? How important is this kind of motivation to a worker who is telecommuting or on a flexible schedule? Please share your ideas in the comments section.
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