There is no rule that says a small business can’t accomplish huge goals. If you have your mind set on accomplishing a huge task, you can definitely achieve it. With a team of motivated assistants, you can take on the world. Motivating people can be difficult, but it can be done. The following are some tips on how to keep your assistants motivated.
Goal setting is a powerful way to keep motivated. When your assistant has written goals they have a clear understanding of what needs to be accomplished. Goals are also measurable; they are either accomplished or they aren’t. This allows your assistant to know if they are doing a good job or if they need to work harder.
Taking a few moments at the beginning of each month or each week to define goals with your assistant will keep both of you on track. Your assistant will know what is expected of him or her. This will make it easier for them to complete their assignments.
Keeping a positive environment will also help your assistants stay motivated. Even if you and your assistants live in separate states or continents, you can still create a cohesive work environment.
Perhaps you can all meet for a weekly meeting on a teleconference line or in a web conference room. Help everyone feel like a team by encouraging them to interact with one another. Let them know that they can always ask each other for help or advice if you are not available.
Giving your assistants new challenges will also do wonders for their motivation. Perhaps one of your assistants can help you organize an event or plan a new information product.
Providing lots of stimulation will keep your assistants from feeling stagnant. If someone works on one task for too long, they can get bored and their work can start to slip. Once their tasks become easy for them, give them a new assignment to take on. You may want to have two or three assistants work on a project together. They may really enjoy the interaction from working as a team.
Holding contests can also be a great motivator. You could create a team goal and if everyone works together and accomplishes the task, you could reward them with a small prize. You could also create individual goals for each team member, or have the team members compete against one another.
Of course, each person is unique and their motivation can come from a different place. What works for one assistant may not work for another. It is a good idea to keep your communication with your assistants open, and to ask them what it is that motivates them as an individual.