Most startup employees want to be as productive as possible, but slumps still happen. If you’re steering the ship, it’s your job to head them off. Everybody needs an occasional break in the routine to jumpstart creativity and get productivity back on track.
Some of the most common causes of slumps and burnouts include difficult projects, mundane routine tasks, summertime, and low blood sugar (typically after lunch). Here are some helpful ways to stave off burnout at any time and motivate your team to finish strong every day:
Schedule Meetings Strategically
For many, a low-pressure meeting is the perfect way to get employees motivated to do their best. The beginning of the week is a popular time for meetings because it gets employees engaged with the work that needs to be done both now and over the next few days.
Consider planning brainstorming meetings for the middle of the week as an energy booster. Employees who are encouraged to think outside the box feel respected, needed, and motivated to get the job done. Use the middle of the week to tap into that source of energy and keep your employees headed down the right path.
Send out Inspiring Messages
Post them on the walls, send them in emails, and use them in meetings to remind employees at every level to keep their eye on the big picture. Quotes, funny memes or videos, inspirational TED Talks, and performance praise sent out at the right time can help employees feel needed, which in turn drives productivity. Invest in your team so that they can invest in their work. The cycle of positivity is emotionally rewarding and can make a real difference in work ethic.
Take a Break
Although this isn’t always encouraged in the startup world, with its nonstop deadlines and pressure, the best managers still listen to their team and can identify when enough is enough. Business requires sustainable productivity levels. Workers who are miserable will never perform at their best. When the going gets tough, that’s when leadership can be more an art than a science. You often wear many hats and act as a psychologist, inspirational speaker, friend, and leader all at once. Empower your team to ask for what they need and help them take the steps they need to be happy at work.
Encourage Healthy Habits
Businesses and insurance providers are starting to realize the strong connection between wellness and workplace productivity. If you have an employee or a team that has low performance ratings after lunch, it may be due to their diets. Set an example by taking the team out for healthy lunches, taking a short walk as a team after lunch, and encouraging some socialization throughout the day. Turn healthy living into a team-building activity or competition to boost morale and get rid of that notorious afternoon slump.
Reward Great Performance
Publicly recognizing high quality performance in the workplace has two benefits. It shows employees their work is valued and respected, and it motivates others to strive toward a concrete goal. Make work recognition a big part of the workplace and reward exceptional behavior with time off, small gifts, or other benefits.
Balancing team motivation and production can be tricky, but managers who have the right toolset and some flexibility in their management style can empower employees to sustain a high level of productivity. Over time, those teams and individuals can become rainmakers, movers and shakers, and leaders in their field.
Help your team be the best they can be, even during the slow times, and their performance will reflect well on you and on your company. It’s time to stop catering to the way business has always been conducted, and start doing what makes sense for you, your team, and your business.