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What are the motivation strategies that I have found to be effective for managers in a retail environment? In order to motivate employees the first thing you need to do is to eliminate the demotivators. Most of these come in the form of bad boss behaviours - the unappreciative, dishonest, lousy-listening, crummy-communicating type of behaviours. As an example let’s take a bakery manager named Victor. Victor was unable to control his anger. He was known to impulsively snap at individual employees over a trivial offense, like forgetting to place the company's sticker on a box of pastries to go. When Victor was advised that his communications were too abrasive, he said he had no time for sensitive employees who couldn't handle a little man-to-man feedback. The damage Victor could do in one minute of fuming could cause his entire staff to huddle in the back room in fear while bakery guests were waiting to be served at the counter. For change to occur with de-motivating managers there has to be an acknowledgement that a quirky and damaging behaviour exists. For some this can be as painful as a twelve-step Alcoholics Anonymous program, where the first step is admitting that you have a problem, or in this case, admitting that you The bakery manager) ARE the problem. After the workplace de-motivators are removed, then what? A Power of One boss appeals to intrinsic motivators. Some employees are motivated by contests because they like winning. Some employees like participating in important projects because they find it motivating to achieve. Some employees are motivated when they work with people they enjoy or admire. How do you know which employee will respond to different types of motivation? That's easy. Try things out like: run a contest and see who is trying to win. Ask who wants to participate on an important project. Ask if anyone wants to work the register with Sarah, or switch to the night shift with Sam. Bosses can also take the time to acknowledge little things. For example; delaying a break to take care of a customer; giving extra good service; tidying up without being asked, etc. Most employees have told me that their boss has never thanked them or acknowledged anything they have done that they thought deserved a little thank you. Beyond just the daily needs for their team to do a good job, how can a retail manager use motivation to prevent a mutiny like the New York and Chicago walkouts? To avoid a mutiny, retail managers need to create a work environment that is superior to others. This is an easy thing - just by treating employees like they would like to be treated - with respect. Managers can address little things that irritate employees. It is very flattering and motivating to employees when the boss listens to them. I can
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