In healthcare, staff motivation is of paramount importance; motivated staff are the key to a positive, productive, healthy workplace. Low motivation at work, on the other hand, can be extremely harmful to both patient safety and staff wellbeing. Read on for some staff motivation techniques for workplace development.
Staff motivation tips
1. Establish a positive workplace
Healthcare can often be a busy, stressful place to work. That’s why it’s important to create areas within the workplace where staff can step away from work to unwind and feel positive.
A comfortable area for staff to take a break in is a must, and allowing staff to personalise their workspace (where possible and appropriate) can go a long way towards making them feel their workplace is their own.
2. Set achievable goals
As a healthcare leader, a good way to engage your staff is by establishing meaningful, achievable goals for them to work towards. These goals should be clear and focused, and beneficial to each employee and their specific role.
You should also ensure that every goal you set for your staff is achievable. Setting your staff complicated, unclear goals that seem far out of their reach can have the opposite effect on morale, and in fact lower motivation in the workplace.
3. Recognise staff achievements and efforts
Goal setting is only one side of the coin; it is also vital that healthcare leaders recognise the hard work and achievements of their team.
In 2023, to help address NHS staff motivation, the NHS devised a staff recognition framework, a guide for senior healthcare leaders and managers on how to motivate their staff by recognising their efforts. This framework details how recognition in the workplace can positively benefit staff wellbeing and their engagement with their role, and increase staff retention. It also outlines several different effective approaches to creating a ‘culture of recognition’ in your workplace.
4. Promote open communication
Staff motivation is bolstered by the feeling of being recognised when you’re performing well, and understood and listened to when you have something to say.
Creating a culture of psychological safety, where open communication is established and staff feel comfortable having candid conversations with each other, is key to workplace development. It promotes learning and growth amongst healthcare teams, who will be more likely to problem-solve together and share knowledge. It also supports the wellbeing of staff and reduces the risk of stress and burnout amongst healthcare professionals.
What are the benefits of staff motivation?
An increased focus on staff motivation can lead to numerous benefits for healthcare leaders and the teams they manage.
Improved staff performance
By implementing staff motivation techniques such as recognising staff achievements, healthcare leaders can ensure their staff feel valued, supported, and, because of that, motivated. Being recognised at work for our hard efforts increases self-esteem and boosts our sense of attachment to our workplace and all we’ve achieved there. Staff are then motivated to continue striving for a higher level of performance and achievement.
Improved patient care
A motivated healthcare team is one that feels empowered and empathic, ready to share the workload and do all they can to succeed in their role. This will in turn contribute to reduced team team dysfunction and improved patient care.
Improved staff wellbeing
Motivated staff who go to work in a positive, open workplace, are aiming for achievable goals, and feel recognised in their role for the effort they put in, are likely to have a much better sense of wellbeing than staff who have not been properly motivated.
