As a leader, you must find ways to help enrich people. It is your role to obtain the best from them and to get them enjoy what they’re doing so that you can achieve outstanding results. And remember, especially those that have taken the “Heart Serene” and the Degrees of Ihsan by Ibnul-Qayyim, that everything we do, we must do it with Ihsan.

1. Praise and Recognition:

Have you thanked your employees, coworkers, family … lately? Recognition is one of the most powerful motivational tool you can use.

• You must do it publicly in front of their colleagues, friends…
• Do it immediately after a task is completed
• Be sincere
• Do not exaggerate
• Don’t forget to do it often

When efforts are recognized, people will perform not only better but they will feel good about themselves.

2. Awards:

Awards are also equally powerful.

• Give the person or the employee a Pin of Excellence as an appreciation of their achievement
• Plaque with the employee’s name and his or her achievement
• You can make it more powerful by inviting their family to witness the occasion

3. Contests:

Contest with the prize being a trip or a lunch with the top person in the company

4. 

• Try to promote instead of hiring from the outside
• When they realize they can advance up the management ladder, they will be motivated to work harder

5. Training:

Your success depends great deal on training your employees. The better they are trained, the better they perform and the more confident they become.

6. Trust:

Trust and give them a sense of freedom, you will be surprised how much they can accomplish

7. Goal Setting:

Helping them in setting their goals has multiple benefits. Goal oriented employees are more motivated performers.

• Help them set their Personal Development Plans
• Ask them to put their goals in writing.

8. Achievements:

• Help them set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time bound) and ask them to visualize that they have achieved them
• Help them to plan weekly and act daily on how they can achieve their SMART goals

9. Decision Making:

• Involve them in the decision making process
• Give them freedom to make their own decisions which will improve their self-confidence

10. Delegation:

Delegating has multiple benefits:

• You’ll have more time to focus on more important tasks
• It helps develop employee’s qualities and prepare them for future advancement
• It motivates your employees and increases their self-esteem

11. Growth:

• Help them grow by sending them to seminars to learn new skills
• Encourage them to continue their education
• Share cost if you can
• Don’t let them perform the same task over and over until boredom sets in

12. Your Attitude:

• Keep a warm smile as much as you can
• Listen to your employees
• Call them by their first name
• Accept full responsibility for your mistakes. Don’t blame everyone
• Treat them fairly; don’t favor one over the other

13. Show Personal Interest in Them:

• Find out their areas of interest
• Find out something common with each one: education, reading, hobby…
• Ask about their families. This gives them a feeling of belonging!

14. Gifts (even inexpensive ones):

• If an employee has a special interest, give him a gift that reflects that interest. That gift would motivate that employee and get him talking about it to everyone

15. Give Them a Challenge:

• Give them an opportunity to learn new tasks or accomplish new goals
• For example, ask the sales team to increase sales by 10% or ask the service department to reduce the number of complaints by 15%

As you may have noticed, money is not mentioned!  Money is a good motivation but not the best one.

Until another post, assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

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