1. You can’t actually motivate your employees . What??!?? I know this first tip seems a little counterproductive, but bear with me. You see, motivation is internal, not external. You can motivate people with carrots and sticks for a while, but it can’t last. Long term, people need to motivate themselves. You’re not powerless, however, because motivation comes from inspiration. So offer your people inspirational goals and they’ll take on the job of motivating themselves.

2. Create a motivating environment . What’s it like at your business? Do people hit the ground running on Monday mornings, or do they live for the weekends? Your working environment has a greater impact on your productivity than you may think. The thing is, every business has a culture. But most have evolved through happenstance and that’s far too risky a way to grow your company. Everything from your office décor to your meeting schedules will affect your environment, so evaluate the impact of every move you make on your culture and watch your productivity soar.

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