If you hold a leadership position in any type of workplace, chances are you’ve witnessed significant fluctuations in employee engagement and motivation. It can be challenging for employees and leaders alike to [remain consistently focused and motivated at work](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/trust-building-exercises). 

Unfortunately, lack of engagement impacts productivity and the company’s bottom line. A study by [The Engagement Institute](https://prnewswire.com/news-releases/empowered-to-be-engaged-new-report-unpacks-the-role-of-rank-and-file-workers-in-bolstering-employee-engagement-300416969.html)found that disengaged U.S. workers cost organizations an estimated $450-550 billion each year! 

Low [employee engagement and motivation](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/employee-motivation-strategies) can feel like elusive issues to address. If you’re ready to turn burnt-out employees into productive, dialed-in team players, we’ve got you covered. 

Read on to uncover simple but [effective employee motivation techniques](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/ways-to-motivate-employees) that will keep your team engaged with their work. 

[>> Want to support employee success and well-being? Schedule a Kaya demo to discover how <<  ](https://571ciyfipax.typeform.com/to/m47o92UL)

##  Improving Employee Engagement and Motivation: 7 Simple Strategies 

We've all been there. The start of a new quarter or year, when our passion and focus is re-energized. We feel ready to take on anything that comes our way. 

But in just a few days, we’re back to where we started: unproductive, distracted, procrastinating, and totally unmotivated.

[Why is motivation important in the workplace](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/what-is-social-health)? [Engagement and motivation at work](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/healthy-work-environment) are crucial drivers of job satisfaction and productivity. 

Not only is it necessary for workers to achieve a fulfilling career, but it’s also necessary for organizations to hit their desired metrics. 

So why do nearly one-third of workers get stuck on this frustrating disengagement roller coaster? And as leaders or managers, why is it so hard to raise collective motivation levels? 

A lack of employee engagement and motivation can be attributed to various factors, such as limited opportunities for growth, poor communication, and a lack of autonomy in the workplace. 

By [implementing strategies like online group therapy](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/online-group-therapy) and [fostering autonomy at workplace](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/autonomy-in-the-workplace), organizations can address these underlying issues and create a more supportive and [empowering work environment](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/healthy-work-environment). These initiatives can enhance employee well-being, job satisfaction, and ultimately foster a [culture of engagement and motivation](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/employee-motivation-strategies) within the organization. 

- Unreasonable expectations from a boss
- Overworked or taxed management and leadership
- Unmanageable workloads
- Chronic work/personal stress 
- A deficiency in human skills or emotional intelligence 
- [Mental health struggles and disorders](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/mental-health-and-culture)

We’ve compiled some effective employee motivation techniques that address many of these factors. 

These are by no means easy situations to solve, but there are simple ways to get started. It’s time to prioritize your company’s employee engagement and motivation.

### Provide Positive Feedback & Open Communication

[Positive feedback](https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7300320/) is proven to be a highly effective source of motivation and flow-state performance. 

When people receive encouraging, uplifting, and enriching reinforcement, they feel valued. And when an individual feels valued at work, their productivity greatly increases. 

This may surprise you, but constructive performance feedback (accountability) can improve motivation and engagement. Why? Accountability is the foundation of great leadership. 

Individuals will value their own work more if they feel their leaders value it as well. Constructive feedback demonstrates to your teams that you believe they are capable, and that their success and the company’s success matters.  

What’s more, fluid, open communication with your teams is key to long-term engagement. When workers feel like the line of communication with management is open, they’re far more likely to come to you with concerns. 

Things like chronic stress due to untenable workloads can spiral, if an employee doesn’t feel comfortable turning to management for support. 

### Prioritize Employee Mental Health
As mentioned above, [mental health struggles can lead to a crash in overall motivation and engagement at work](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/workplace-mental-health-culture/mental-health-in-the-workplace). For example, depression causes a lack of motivation in all areas of a person’s life. 

Symptoms of mental health disorders like depression can cause decreased energy, lack of focus, loss of interest in activities, and hopelessness.

That’s why it’s more important than ever to [create a strong workplace mental health culture](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/mental-health-at-work). This means that the environment within your company is conducive to well-being. At Kaya Care, we’ve defined the core pillars of [a positive workplace mental health culture](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/work-life-balance-for-employees): 

- A collaborative workplace of connection and community
- [Clinical mental health support services](https://www.joinkaya.com/for-clinicians)
- A safe, inclusive work environment
- [A healthy work-life balance](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/work-life-balance-for-employees)
- Personal and career growth opportunities

[Interested in more on workplace mental health culture? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Workplace Mental Health ](https://571ciyfipax.typeform.com/kayamhguide)

Offering your team a mental health care benefit is a powerful way to prioritize mental health. Some EAPs out there offer scant [mental health services](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/what-is-mental-fitness), and many don’t offer any at all. 

That’s why here at Kaya, we offer companies affordable, accessible, and inclusive clinical mental health support for their teams. [Schedule a demo today to learn more. ](https://571ciyfipax.typeform.com/to/m47o92UL)

### Offer Generous Rewards and Incentives
A bit of fun, gift giving, and rewarding incentives can quickly resuscitate employee engagement. As a bonus, this strategy is also useful for taxed leaders and managers who need a boost. 

It feels good to find ways to give back and make others feel valued. So if you’re an org leader feeling a bit burnt out yourself, this one’s for you. 

Here are some fun ideas for offering your teams enticing incentives to electrify employee motivation levels:

- **Celebrate your top performing employees publicly**. Get creative with this! A team wall of fame, a company-wide email of acknowledgement, etc. The goal is to demonstrate to all employees that success and hard work yields recognition.
- **Throw parties**. It can be for anything, like a retiring employee’s farewell party or a celebration for reaching a big company milestone. Parties are a great incentive for reaching milestones.
- **Send thank you notes.** [Did your employee make progress in something?](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/work-life-balance-for-employees) Did they complete a task without asking for anything in return? Show them you notice their value by sending a gratitude email or even sticky note. You’d be surprised how far this goes.
- **Offer free swag.** Who doesn’t love to periodically receive free branded gifts? This alone can make employees value the place they work even more, which can definitely help with engagement.
- **Host a charity event with donation matching.** Matching gifts and charity funding are really useful tools for upping employee engagement with the work they do and the company they do it for. Offer to [match employee donations](https://charities.org/matching-employee-gifts-donations-definitive-guide-for-employers).
- **Give bonuses and raises.** We all know how well this can work! Providing bonuses and raises for a job well done is one of the most powerful ways to engage employees and motivate them to achieve their career goals.

### Foster a Workplace of Connection & Community
Creating a workplace culture of connection and community is one of the most effective employee motivation strategies. When an individual knows they are valued and they belong to a team that cares, they will possess a powerful sense of accountability and agency. 

We hold ourselves to higher standards when we know our success is integral to the success of the whole team. And when we grow to truly care for our work peers, we are more invested in mutual success.

Want to deepen a sense of community among your employees? Offer department-wide training workshops, elective after-hours events, and opportunities for more collaborative team-based projects. 

And promote the company’s values and mission – it’s easier to motivate employees when they understand your values and connect their role with these values.

### Invest in Quality Technology
This gets overlooked by leadership quite often. As technology rapidly advances, we need to ensure our office technology doesn’t become obsolete. In addition, ensure your team members aren’t completing time-consuming, mindless administrative tasks that aren’t necessary. 

Today, so much of these data entry and admin projects can be streamlined and automated with the right software. 

So invest in project management and design tools that will free up mental energy for your employees. It’s easy to get burnt out fast with old, frustrating tech. 

Also consider investing in a digital program that allows each individual employee to monitor their work progress and measure their personal engagement levels over time. 

Tools that allow each worker to monitor their general progress or motivation and engagement levels can be hugely beneficial. This will help them maintain their productivity and focus. 

Platforms like Culture Amp and 15Five are good examples, but there are many more on the market.

### Offer Autonomy & Flexibility
Humans want agency and control over their own lives, period. This same principle can be applied in the workplace. When bosses and leaders empower their teams to take control over their own work, [engagement and productivity rises. 
](https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7243795/)

The Engagement Institute found that one huge hit to engagement comes from the misconception that engagement should primarily happen at the top. 

This is why it’s essential to remind employees that leaders aren’t the only ones who can move the needle. Each team member is key in moving the needle at any company. 

Workers should know that they’re a crucial member, and that their boss trusts them to accomplish the goals they set. Micromanaging your teams is detrimental to their sense of passion and engagement for the work itself. 

Giving workers autonomy and some free reign to be creative and innovative is one of the most powerful strategies to boost passion and productivity in one’s role. 

In addition, offering schedule flexibility can go a long way for employee engagement. When workers are given the power to make choices, they will feel far more motivated to engage with their everyday work lives.

### Provide Opportunities for Growth
This is one of Kaya’s essential ingredients of a powerful workplace mental health culture. And for good reason! Offering employees regular opportunities for personal and professional development will keep them reaching for higher. 

When an individual believes that their career is worth investing time and effort in, and they recognize their own progress, they will feel more driven to accomplish at work.

Growth opportunities can come in many forms: 
- Provide yearly company training seminars, or periodic business skill building workshops. 
- Offer enriching content or software programs to deepen specialized abilities. 
- Offer supplemental education or tuition reimbursement.
- Offer opportunity for professional certifications.  
- Offer leadership skill building programs. 

If you’re a leader, don’t miss the opportunity to provide enriching growth opportunities for your teams. These are great employee engagement and motivation boosters.

## In Conclusion: Employee Motivation Techniques For Success
We hope this article provided you with some new strategies to inspire your employees, and help them maintain engagement and motivation in the workplace. 

These multifaceted techniques involve fostering a workplace mental health culture, open communication, and opportunities for connection and growth. 

Show your employees their efforts are highly valued, and that the work they do truly matters to the success of the company. The health of your employees and company at large will thrive.

## Join Kaya: Group Mental Health for the Future of Work 
Looking for a solution of mental health support for your workplace? Consider Kaya Care, a flexible, affordable virtual mental health services platform. 

Kaya’s team of licensed clinicians offers mental health support sessions for employees based on shared experiences. Our expert team has a combined 50 years of professional experience. 

Let’s discuss how we can best support your employees’ well-being. Connect with our team today and schedule a demo. 

[Offer Your Team Clinical Mental Health Support - Request A Kaya Demo
](https://571ciyfipax.typeform.com/to/m47o92UL)


Want to supercharge your company by increasing employee engagement and motivation? Here are 7 simple employee motivation techniques to start implementing in the workplace today. 

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7 Simple Strategies To Help Keep Your Employees Engaged And Motivated