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Employee motivation is one of the biggest soft challenges in the work place and this is true because of various factors, could be the current economy, the era of quit quitting that has been prevalent or even general individual goals.

As an employer or team leader, this is a struggle you will find yourself in among some specific individuals or you might notice that some motivational tools you are employing are only working short team or not working at all despite your best efforts.

To understand what works for who, we need to understand how motivation works, how to implement it, how to personalize it, when to apply it or when not to. 

Employee Motivation has been linked to multiple organization outcomes like high performance, efficiency and overall commitment. These being key aspects attributed to the HR value chain it is vital to maintain in your organizations.

The main motivational reward aspects have been monetary & non-monetary rewards. Monetary rewards being are those that contribute to overall financial wellness of your employees while non-monetary rewards being intangible rewards like recognition, career advancement, job security, conducive work environment and flexibility. 

We are living in a time where it is vital to cater to every individual and align to your Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) policies in the workspace. Alignment of motivational factors to the various generations is also a non-negotiable.

For instance, a young mother would appreciate flexibility in working hours and remote work far more than a male employee who has been working with you for twenty years. To the gentleman, financial wellness and retirement preparedness sessions would have much more value than flexibility or work from home benefits. 

Motivation is not a tangible aspect, rather, it is a dynamic response that varies among individuals, reflecting the distinctiveness of each person's character and circumstances. The different ways you apply motivational tools reflects in shaping the environment that keeps your team engaged and driven. It is therefore fundamental to understand what motivates each employee for both organizational and individual success, enhancing productivity, and fostering team satisfaction.