It’s been a tough old year for all of us and as 2020 draws to a close, you might be finding it increasingly difficult to keep motivated. Add in a second lockdown that has seen you setting up your home office for a second time around and keeping yourself engaged can feel like a bit of a challenge.

Sound familiar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone!

 

We’ve put together some useful tips for staying motivated each day. Practice these daily and share them with friends or colleagues:

 

  • Start your day right
    You might have heard this before but setting a routine to start your day off right is so important for motivation. Whether you do an online exercise class, walk the dog or just have some time to yourself with a coffee before switching on your computer or checking your emails, putting aside that time for yourself first thing is really important and effective. Getting in the right mindset in the morning will set you off in good stead for the rest of the day.

 

  • Assign specific times to each task & set smaller goals
    Many of us use ‘to-do’ lists to manage our workload, and whilst that can work really well, another method is to assign chunks of time in your calendar to specific tasks. This helps to manage your time better throughout the day and for people who are more visual, you can see your day set out in front of you in your calendar. If you prefer your to-do list, try splitting your tasks into smaller chunks. This way it will feel less overwhelming and more manageable.

 

  • Tackle the hardest task first
    We all do it – look at our task list and leave the one we don’t want to do until the end – what this actually does is create dread throughout the day at the thought of having to do that task. So, instead, make the hardest task the first one you do. Once you’ve completed it, you can enjoy the rest of the day or week, knowing that it is done! Trust me, you will feel much better!

 

  • Take regular breaks
    Sitting all day isn’t good for you, make sure you stand up every hour or so and stretch your legs. If you are stuck on a particular problem, take a short break away from your screen and try and get some fresh air, you will feel better when you return to the task.

 

  • Reach out to colleagues
    If you’re struggling to get motivated to start a task, talk it through with someone – perhaps there is a reason your lacking motivation, such as lack of understanding of the task, or it might be out of comfort zone. Talking to others can help you work out the best way to tackle a task. The social interaction you get will also boost your mood – just make sure that you are surrounding yourself with the right people –who will encourage and support you. Even if you’re working remotely, pick up the phone, have a quick zoom or chat on yammer. Just don’t get carried away and not finish your work!

 

 

At this point you might be thinking – OK, great advice, but how can I motivate my team and keep them all engaged too?

Keeping a team engaged can be tricky and if you add remote working into the mix, it can prove more difficult. But here’s some advice to ensure your team are happy, engaged and working hard to keep the business successful.

 

  • Share our advice!
    Share the above tips with your team to help them to educate themselves on how to self-motivate. Why not ask team members to share their own tips with the rest of the team to get everyone involved?

 

  • Communicate
    Some people can feel demotivated when they feel ‘left-out’ of a situation. This is particularly relevant if your team are working remotely. Ensure that you communicate regularly with your team – provide any updates, share new business wins and explain any changes that need to take place. If your team feel that you are being open and honest with them, they will be more likely to be engaged in their role.

 

  • Recognition
    Team motivation is increased if they are recognised for their hard work. This doesn’t always have to be an outstanding contribution which is above and beyond their role. Recognising the team as a whole for their hard work is just as effective – for example acknowledging the team for putting in extra hours or pulling together to get a job completed. A simple thank you and recognition can go a long way.

 

  • Celebrate results
    Celebrate the wins in the business with your team. For example, you might have just won a contract or onboarded a new client. Celebrating the little wins as well as the big ones with your team members is vital to show how much their contributions impact the business positively.

 

  • Stay positive
    I know. Perhaps easier said than done at the moment but trying to push away negative thoughts and concentrating on thinking positively will not only make you feel better, but it will also have a positive impact on your team. A happier team are more motivated, engaged, and productive.

 

  • Encourage Health & Wellbeing
    Ensure that your company policies encourage your team to look after themselves and their health. Do you encourage everyone to take a break, rather than working through their lunch breaks? Do you have flexible working to allow for health appointments or family matters? Promoting health and wellbeing with your team and being more flexible can increase productivity and engagement as your team feel looked after.

 

 

Want to discuss strategies for improving team engagement? Get in touch for a chat