Tag: Motivating Employees

Customer Experience Design by myragolden

3 Ideas to Help Customer Service Employees Work Through Burnout

Stressful day at work

The twentieth of May marks 16 years that I’ve been in business for myself, doing the things I’ve dreamt about, the things I love – training, writing, designing curriculum. I love where I am and what I do; yet recently I have experienced burnout.

Guilt was my first response to burnout. How dare I feel bored, disinterested and un-creative. So many people would be happy to be where I am; I should be grateful. I’m my own boss. A typical workday for me includes dining at a highly recommended local restaurant, perhaps a walking tour of a historic city in the south, shopping for shoes in Toronto’s fashion district or meeting beautiful spirited Native Americans in Milbank, South Dakota. All this is after a well-received training session or keynote.

I am grateful, actually, and yet, I was experiencing burnout. I wonder if your employees have ever been where I am just now emerging from – the brink of burnout. Maybe you, too, have felt unmotivated at work. I’ve addressed, really still addressing, my burnout by doing 3 things. These 3 things, I believe, can help your employees (or you), out of a rut when they feel burned out or simply un-motivated.

1. Don’t allow customer service employees to spend more than 80% of their time on the phones

Continue reading 3 Ideas to Help Customer Service Employees Work Through Burnout
Motivating Employees by myragolden

The Psychology of Employee Motivation

Abraham Maslow developed the concept of the Hierarchy of Needs and it has been extensively applied to managerial situations. Maslow suggests that people are motivated by 5 levels of needs and higher level needs do […]

Motivating Contact Center Agents by myragolden

Who Says There’s No Free Lunch?

Two years ago I walked into my client’s office for the first time for an exploratory meeting. The aroma of deli sandwiches and fresh salads was in the air. I spotted a buffet table surrounded […]

Call Center Management by myragolden

The Top 10 Things That Matter to Contact Center Representatives

 What matters most to call center agents?   According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the top 10 things that matter are: 1.    Good wages 2.    Job security 3.    Promotion and growth in the company 4.    […]

Call Center Management by myragolden

Recognition Made Easy – 10 Low Cost Ways to Recognize and Reward Employees

Smiling receptionist 

There are two things people want more than sex and money…recognition and praise.

Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay is right, as studies indicate that employees find personal recognition more motivational than money. A work climate filled with praise and recognition is a workplace where employees are positive, productive and motivated.

Recognizing and rewarding employees doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. Perhaps the primary reason more managers don’t take the time to intentionally motivate employees is that they lack the time and creativity to come up with ideas.

After reading this week’s article you will have no excuses for not motivating your team, because I am giving you 10 low cost ways to recognize and reward your employees.

  1. Call an employee into your office just to thank him or her; don’t discuss any other issue.

  2. Give the employee a 2-hour lunch.

  3. Send a thank you note to a spouse thanking them for their support during the employee’s overtime.

  4. Hold a potluck lunch for your group. This is always so much fun for everyone!

  5. Write a letter of praise to employees recognizing their specific contributions and accomplishments.

  6. Send an email acknowledgement and copy your boss or higher manager.

  7. When paychecks go out, write a note on the envelope recognizing an employee’s accomplishment. (They’re sure not to miss this one!)

  8. Give gift cards. Food, movies, music, whatever!

  9. Provide an extra break. We can all do this, can’t we?

Continue reading Recognition Made Easy – 10 Low Cost Ways to Recognize and Reward Employees