In the workplace, it can be very difficult to obtain staff motivation. There are many factors that play against staff motivation. It really is the manager's responsibility to motivate the employees. This can be very challenging at times.
There are six guidelines that a person can follow to achieve staff motivation.
1. A friendly working environment is extremely important to a positive attitude in the workplace. Socializing should be acceptable in most cases. People can work and socialize at the same time. There has to be interaction between the staff in order for them to form a bond and relationship to become a team.
Also, if coming to your job everyday is never fun, then you will have some very unmotivated workers on your hands. It must be an enjoyable place to spend 8-10 hours per day. This is crucial for staff motivation.
2. Helping the employees set goals for themselves is very important to gaining staff motivation. Everyone needs to know what his or her expectations are as well as their job description. A weekly staff meeting could be beneficial to a productive work place. It is a good idea to get their input and listen to any complaints.
3. The open door policy with management is a must. The staff must be able to come and discuss any problems or even ideas with the management, in confidentiality. They need to be able to give their feedback on issues. More importantly, the management needs the feedback.
4. Rewarding your staff with bonuses, promotions, employee of the month awards or raises will help motivate them. Even praise is encouraging to the employees. It lets them know that they are valuable to the team.
Without these rewards or praises, the staff will feel unappreciated and worthless. If they have these feelings, then they will not have any pride in their work and you will probably get low quality work.
5. Understanding that everyone works at a different pace and with a different style is a key to success, as well. There are many different personalities in one work place. It is the Managers job to listen and understand that everyone is different. To be flexible and understanding is another key to staff motivation.
6. It is so important for the Manager to leave room for error in every line of work. We are all human. There will be mistakes made. It is up to the boss to have an alternate plan in case of an error. A plan B to correct the problem.
All these ideas are a good place to start in achieving staff motivation in the workplace. Different things motivate different people. Staff motivation can be achieved by following these guidelines.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Murphy
10 comments:
The Malaysia country can only attract its young and bright minds home if our national leaders seriously believe it is building an enabling social, political and economic environment for these young and bright minds to achieve their individual personal growth.
As it stands, the current environment in the country only attracts mediocre. Even the local universities, the subtle manipulation of university exams and the education system encourage mediocrity to succeed over the talented and the gifted.
Sadly, Umno ministers and politicians will never get it and they prefer not to, anyway.
Down south, our neighbour Singapore is doing its best to attract foreign talents. It is simple mathematics: Stay in Malaysia, work and slave, see other less qualified people rise above me. Go to Singapore/Australia/America, work and slave, earn promotion (if one is deserving).
Malaysia is a wonderful country. Unfortunately, corrupt, hypocrisy, racism (government sanctioned racism), and above all, a total blindness to our faults as a nation and as a people, means that only those who don't have a choice will return there.
If the government really wants to stop brain drain, be fair. Just be fair to everyone. Simple as that.
You worked overseas until you made your pile, didn't you?
In fact, that is what our Dr Mahathir advised us students to do when he gave a lecture in UK. As I remembered it, made your pile and come home. I supposed there is nothing wrong with that.
The problem is if all these people actually come back to Malaysia and refuse to leave, Malaysia will be changed forever!
Just ask professor Gomez and professor Jomo why they left?
Things work in an extremely strange fashion back in Malaysia. Good people have to resign and good companies are not given contracts.
There is a very big push factor as in Malaysia actually pushes the best people out. Not only in government but also in business as well. The whole country works in a strange fashion, the mediocre become mighty while the good gets beaten to pulp. Even good malays get sidelined. It happens everywhere, even in your favourite Chinese primary schools.
Check out the expert return scheme and you can find out how petty the government is and how "serious" they are about attracting people back.
Maybe when the oil runs dry, things will change a little bit?
We are always talking about graduates who are not doing enough to look after themselves and hoping for handouts. Sometimes however, one must learn to actually differentiate between luck and skills.
Many who have been successful in business think that they have the best management skills in the world without realising that some of their successes are due to 'string pulling' rather then skills, especially in Malaysia.
Anyway, this is actually what is severely lacking in corporate Malaysia - people who have come up from the bottom rungs before taking over at the top. People who understand how it is for staff at the lower ranks and the difficulties they face.
If spouses and offspring just take over at the top without any experience, be it in banking, construction or entertainment, surely it is a recipe for disaster. The stories of those who have made to the top through the old fashion way of hard work and diligence serve as a timely reminder to all of us.
This process is almost non-existent in corporate Malaysia and we all now are seeing the downside to it and how it has curtailed our knowledge and skill expansion.
What I find a little surprising is that the person wrote that 'Part of the problem is when people can't differentiate between gifts and kickbacks or bribes'.
That is what I call the culture of corruption. The problem confronting the country is not corruption per se. The serious problem concerning corruption is when it becomes acceptable as a way of life.
Therefore, it is the acceptance of corruption rather than corruption itself that is the cancer that is destroying the moral fibre of the nation. When one cannot differentiate between gifts and bribes, then obviously that is what is known as the culture of corruption.
When a person tries to rationalise his/her actions, then that person obviously feels guilty. Saying that it is 'peanuts' is just a way of justifying dishonesty.
Our children are also inducted into this culture of corruption when they come of age. When our children become old enough to qualify for a driving license, they often learn that their parents moral compass is a little defective.
How many parents pay 'coffee money' so that their children can pass their driving tests. How do you justify that? If you do not pay, you do not pass.
How often have we heard people claim that 'this is life' or 'this is the real world'?
The sooner Malaysians stop justifying or rationalising their corrupt practices and acknowledge that we already have a culture of corruption, the faster we can acknowledge the need to clean up this country of this scourge.
Don't rely upon our political leaders. There is enough evidence that their moral compasses have been broken a long time ago.
The Chinese in Malaysia, are caught between a rock and a hard place. Vote for Barisan Nasional and put up with racism, inefficiency and corruption. You will see your rights as a citizen being slowly whittled away.
Vote for the opposition and no development or maintenance funds for your area. Anyway, with all the gerrymandering, the Chinese votes can't make a significant dent on Umno stranglehold on power.
So the Chinese bury their heads in the sand. They get busy earning money through legal as well as illegal means. Malaysian Chinese bookies and fake credit card syndicates are world-renowned.
Some of our most capable brains end up in Hong Kong, Singapore and other countries. The more resourceful ones find Umno partners and go into big business. The rest of us mere mortals work our butts off to save money.
While it is debatable whether the Chinese are still in control of the economy or not, there is no doubt that a small number of well-connected Chinese businessmen are among the wealthiest people in Malaysia.
However, the vast majority of the Chinese in Malaysia are in the lower middle class, the middle class and upper middle class. They are bank-tellers, doctors, engineers, farmers, hawkers, peddlers, small traders, technicians, teachers, etc. There are about seven million Chinese in Malaysia. Common sense will tell you that not all of them are wealthy.
The Chinese are fed up with the government but they really feel helpless because they have been cowed into submission.
Fortunately, our traditional work ethics come to our rescue. We work hard to save money and send our children overseas and hope that they will have a better life there and be treated as first-class citizens.
Why are we Malaysia not equal to Singapore, some hurtful truths:-
When we have to pay RM100 million for an abandoned bridge project.
When thousand of Malaysian motorists have to brace the jam, the fume, the carbon monoxide, and at the expense of the quality family time, to crawl through the causeway everyday to "cari makan".
When thousand of kids from Johor wake up in the wee hours of the morning to catch their school bus to Singapore for their quality education.
When they have one of the highest property ownership in the world.
When they are so many abandoned shopping complexes in Johor, e.g. Sun City, Pacific Mall, Lot 1, Kemayan City, etc.
When there is a railway line from Tg Pelepas to Senai in Johor, built at a cost of many millions but has never been used for at least the last four years.
When their politicians are ex-Malaysians, e.g. Irene Ng (ex-journalist), Khaw Boon Wan (Minister of Health) and Lee Bee Wah (ex-rubber taper daughter from Rumbai, Melaka).
When their per capita spending power is 5X per capita of an average Malaysian.
When their crime rates are negligible when compared to Johor Baru.
When the biggest shopping complex in Johor, City Square is majority owned by Temasek, an investment arm of Singapore.
When Singapore says cheap, cheap, cheap (like a bird) shopping in Johor.
When Singapore has the most efficient and world class airport, MRT and port system.
When Singapore is ranked so highly in the transparency index as compared to Malaysia.
When Singapore is ranked as the most business friendly place.
When SGD1= RM2.28.
When our public transportation is a real poor cousin of SBS and MRT.
When our professionals are attracted to Singapore in droves.
When our minister sits comfortably and not bringing in the much needed foreign investment to spur growth.
When our best brains in Malaysia are offered scholarship and subsequent citizenship to be Singaporeans.
When Malaysia stop the crux mentality and be more transparent with the award of the bridge, CIQ, other projects etc, without the due process of tender.
When as a wee nation, they are expanding their external economy at breakneck speed by strategic acquisitions.
When as a tiny nation, their foreign reserve is manifold of Malaysia.
When as a backward backyard with no natural resources, Singapore has made it to be one of the most developed nations in one generation.
The list goes on and I weep for Malaysia, not meant as a sarcasm but really as a matter of reality.
Yes, the present malay generation need motivations and a lot of serious one too. A true role model to inspire them to greater height. There are still clear mind but are they just the trace of the dying old guards? Yet what do we have now as role models?
The underhanded tactics in politics orchestrations by racial bigotry, the immoral unethical accumulation of national wealth mostly via rent seeking, the distorted interpretations of man-and-god relationship via Arabilization.
These are the role models that the current malays are exposed to. So, what and how can you expect the malays will get out of these chronic Umno-malays behaviours?
The trace of survival is in-born within every human. This character will demonstrate itself even more in time of crisis and remain as a life-long reminder after one goes through the crisis and live on.
So, it is all come down to will the malays want the easy way out or to fight for it in earnest, despite all the challenges in monetary, politics and religions temptations, along the way pushing all the obstacles and kindred ostracize aside?
Where are the younger malay intelligentsias that will lead your people out of these woods? Are they all staying out of the country while the struggling old guards shouting like crazy just as the tidak-apa-stance play its drum call to the doom march?
The older guards of the malays, know the fruits of success through hard works and struggles. Unfortunate majority of the younger generation malays just want to have the easy way out. Thus you have the present scenario in Umno.
The prime minister was quoted earlier to have said that the Barisan Nasional has fulfilled its election promises with the unveiling of the 9th Malaysia Plan. Here is a list comparing the BN 2004 Election Manifesto and what has transpired since then.
I urge the prime minister to re-read his own manifesto before making grandiose but fraudulent proclamations.
On corruption and abuse of power, the manifesto said:
· BN will continue the all-out campaign against corruption, without fear or favour.
The reality -
· "Umno does not intend to report the cases to the ACA. We have our own mechanism." - Radzi Ahmad, Umno secretary-general, on money politics in Umno.
On economy, the manifesto said:
· Your opinions and views continue to matter as Barisan Nasional endeavours to implement people centred policies.
The reality -
· "I hope the public will not question the money saved………." - Prime Minister Badawi, March 17, 2006, on the RM4.4 billion saved from fuel subsidies.
On education, the manifesto said:
· Barisan Nasional has worked hard to provide universal access to education. We will……….foster student interaction to enhance national unity.
The reality -
· "I will never allow non-bumis to enter UiTM. I will ensure that the percentage of malay students given places at public universities will always be higher than the percentage under the previous quota system." - then Higher Education Minister Dr Shafie, Umno General Assembly 2004.
On human rights and freedom, the manifesto said:
· Barisan Nasional safeguards the interests of all citizens. We listen to and act on the hopes and aspirations of all groups regardless of age, ethnic, gender, and religion.
The reality -
· "We will not think twice about using this law against anyone who incites - that is why we still need the Sedition Act and ISA (Internal Security Act)." - Nazri Aziz, March 20, 2006.
On parliament and democracy, the manifesto said:
· Barisan Nasional is strongly committed to parliamentary democracy, which gives each citizen a say in the administration of this nation.
The reality -
· "We used the whip (once) so they had to follow, now it is the same………." - Nazri Aziz, Dec 21, 2005, on the forcing of women BN senators to vote for the Islamic Family Law bill.
On religion and culture, the manifesto said:
· BN upholds the diversity of religious practice, language and culture.
The reality -
· "Members of uniformed services, including the police, must abide by the regulations on the wearing of their uniforms." - Badawi, March 27, 2006, on the compulsory wearing of the tudung by non-Muslim policewomen during official functions.
As a brain drainer whom has fled to Australia, here are my reasons for leaving.
(1) Better government. Australia government is way less wasteful than Malaysia government. I am rather tired of seeing my tax money going into white elephants and useless projects while our Malaysia schools are getting neglected. Oh, and my tax returns are guaranteed to be paid back in 10 days. Usually I will get my tax return in 4 to 5 working days.
(2) Better lifestyle. I cannot own a car and still be able to get around Australia. I am looking forward to do my masters degree in a proper university environment and being supported by the government through PELS scheme and tax deductions.
(3) Better traffic. Besides Sydney, traveling around cities in Australia is quite a relaxing task. You don't have to deal with some corrupt policemen or crazy drivers.
(4) Things are actually affordable here. You might have to pay 10 bucks for a plate of 'char koay teow', but the size of the plate you can share is with 3 people back in Malaysia. Oh, and you get the big prawns too.
Like someone said, I go back to Malaysia for the 3Fs - family, friends and food. If I do stay in Malaysia, I do not see a future for myself or my family. My children will be discriminated at school. Education will be extremely expensive. And I will die earlier due to all the pollution in the air.
As many doctors leave Malaysia every year, there are more illegal Indonesian workers coming in and became citizens so easily. The country does not only flush away good brains but also refill with……….(sigh) - this is an insane country.
No no, this is not insane. We did great things to the world you know, like providing brains to others, and accept rubbish from others. That is a Malaysia Boleh!
Don't worry. Many people are already leaving Malaysia for a better future elsewhere, where they are rewarded what is due them, their knowledge, intelligence and hard work. Blame people such as yourself for the brain drain in Malaysia is suffering.
As far as I can recall, the Melaka Sultanate was not Muslim. Islam was introduced by the Muslim traders from the Middle East and some attributed it to Laksamana Cheng Ho, who was a Chinese Muslim. So please take note that the origins of the Sultanate was not one that is Muslim.
Second - technically and legally speaking, only the natives such as the Jakuns, Ibans and Bidayuhs are the original pribumis in Malaysia. Even the malays have bloodlines from Sumatra, Sulawesi and Jawa.
I am praying for the day that some rich person(s) would challenge the current legal rulings when it comes to the rights of the malays because the malays do not originate from Malaysia and thus, do not deserve the title "prince of the earth" and the rights that go with it.
I am all for special rights for people who truly deserve it - the poor, the needy and the natives, who are the true bumiputeras.
We are fast approaching the 50th anniversary of independence. Please ask ourselves what have we achieved in this span of time.
What has happened to our education system? How has our nation improved?
How are we going to improve ourselves and make Malaysia a friendly and safe place for investors and tourists alike? Why is the crime rate going up, with numerous murder, robbery and sexual assault cases?
(But yes, by all means, continue to call someone a bitch. She is more articulate than you anytime of the day. More well read and traveled. In almost every sense, she is better than you. So if she is clueless, I wonder what do you call one who is like yourself?
And no matter how terrible/sinful/bad a person is, I am sure every religion promotes respect and love. No doubt even the Prophet would be respectful and patient of womenfolk.
Shows your family upbringing at home and how you treat your mother truly.)
What conservative Islamic values? The correct term is conservative Arabic values. These values are alien to Malaysia. Girls in the kampungs used to bathe by the riverside.
Even P Ramlee movies hardly featured anyone in tudung. And now you have indoctrinated fools going scuba diving in the tudung. Oh, how the foreigners laugh!
People who want to live like Arabs should move to the Middle East. There is your cue, malay.
I personally think that men and women who do not have life experiences and relevant university educations should never qualify as politicians in near future.
After 50 years of independence, I expect a higher standard for politicians - well traveled, well read, well knowledgeable and informed. Plus admirable virtues such as respect, love, kindness and gentleness.
So our citizens and politicians (who represent Malaysia in the world front) ought to be more smart.
Malay, you should go to Afghanistan/Iran/Pakistan, on a one-way plane ticket. Make sure you strip off your Malaysian citizenship on the way there. Malaysia deserves much better than citizens such as yourself.
So please do us a favor and just fly to another country where your ideas will be welcomed and encouraged. Malaysia has no place for a person such as you.
Only in Malaysia can an 'honourable' member of parliament admit that he was the person who had the audacity to ask the customs department to 'close an eye' in not seizing a consignment of logs imported by his company and still walk away proudly as if nothing he did was wrong.
With all the accusations hurled against him, this minister does not seem to regret his actions. He admitted he has an interest in the consignment and even had the cheek to say 'What is wrong with that?'
I am really disappointed that no action (so far) has been taken against this 'honourable' man. He has brought shame upon himself as an elected representative of the people, to parliament and to the party he represents.
An opposition member was suspended for six months without pay for a minor indiscretion, and here we have a minister from the ruling coalition who has openly admitted his wrongdoing and no punishment is meted out. What an irony!
No wonder there are others who simply do not abide by the law if they can help it because we already have people in high places who think what they have been doing all this while has been right anyway.
That is Malaysia Boleh for you.
Now we all know why these ministers are reluctant to allow live telecasts of parliament debates, for we will then see them in all their disgrace.
For the minister to blatantly say 'So what??' and all that, I think we now understand why the Malaysian government and its policies are going down the drain. If the BN can only offer the electorate ministers of these character and nature, we, the citizens should and must start worrying.
They do not represent the people interest, they represent their own interest. And our ministers have the audacity to ask the overseas professionals to be patriotic! What do these ministers expect?
The latest episode has revealed how powerless the Malaysia parliament is. The parliament like many other government institutions, has its fangs removed over the last 22 years.
In the words of former Umno supreme, Dr Mahathir, parliament is a mere rubberstamp and he made sure it was just that. When push comes to shove, we now know that BN ministers will vote for the interest of their party first and not the people who voted them in.
What is the point of Malaysians voting for a BN minister when he is bound to vote along party lines? In fact, this goes to show that it does not take much to be a BN minister. Just do as you are told and leave your principles and conscience at home.
What is more disappointing is Pak Lah's response to the whole Shahrir episode. I think the government should wrap up its National Integrity Plan and bury it.
If Pak Lah and his people are all good people with good intentions, and we should all do whatever the government says and toe the line prescribed by this 'man of courage and good intentions, interested in the greater good of the majority and trying to balance many conflicting demands cutting across all lines', then surely the most intelligent thing to do is to dissolve parliament.
What do we need parliamentary democracy for?
I would also like to take issue with his assessment that the PM is a man of courage. In the first place, if the PM is a man of courage, he has yet to demonstrate any signs remotely indicative of courage.
What Pak Lah has shown us so far is not only indecisiveness but a lack of commitment to combat corruption. Pak Lah has successfully deceived Malaysians by promising to clean up corruption.
However, after getting such a huge mandate from the Malaysian voters, he has failed to live up to his promise. This PM is going to go down in history as nothing more than a great pretender.
Our Malaysia country is facing brain drain issues and we are not trying our very best to tackle this issue. So many smart talents have emigrated because of the non-appreciation by certain quarters. Not to mention anybody but you can see it yourself. It is a real shame to you, Malaysia!
Other first class mentality governments (i.e. US, UK, Singapore, and other EU countries) are extremely busy with their brain gain programme by encouraging highly-skilled workers to migrate to their countries and these people are given the permanent resident status.
I always question myself this statement "I love you (Malaysia), but do you (Malaysia) love me"! In future, we won't be talking about underdeveloped-developing-developed country but smart-smarter-smartest country.
If you are sticking to current bias and non-appreciation policy then you will always breed third class mentality even though you have first class infrastructure. I hope the current government can think well and act accordingly to correct the current situations. I can only wish!
It is quite sad to see so many good lecturers leaving UM. Not only non-malays, even good malay lecturers are leaving. Many good lecturers in their retiring age want to continue their contract. However there seems to be few factions in the university that wants to get rid of them and place their won people inside.
What is worse is that this bunch of people, i.e. lecturers included those in administrative department, i.e. bursary department etc, think that UM good reputation was their effort and would not shamelessly think that they are above everything else and treat students badly.
UM is an extension of Umno. Its role is to project malay dominance. We can say whatever we want here but I can assure you UM will never change for the better. To do so would mean undermining malay superiority and upgrading non-malay role.
Overall, UM reputation is receding, good private universities such as MMU, Monash University and Utar are emerging as the premier universities in Malaysia, but then again, it would be very difficult for the staff in these universities to obtain grants for their research, because of their non-malay or foreigner status.
Such is the reality of our Malaysia system. To satisfy the NEP at all costs, even to the extent of ruining the future of our next generation.
The malay agenda says "Good riddance" and welcome Muslims from Cambodia, Arab, and all over the world. Goodbye and don't come back.
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