The reward for working must come from the work itself

In order to be motivated, a working environment must be fulfilling and energizing. Using punishment as an external motivator is not always a wise decision since all of us are already frustrated and stressed. Also, external motivators are forgotten quickly and tend to work on a sliding scale-- you will normally require more and more of the external motivator as time goes on. The reward for working must come from the work itself.

How do we ensure that you feel your work is intrinsically motivating? By igniting the "flame" within each of them. With a specific task or job in your mind ask yourself the following FLAME questions:

1)Feedback
Is there a feedback system built into the job? Are you hearing from your customers, both internal and external, when they do well or poorly? If not, how can we build feedback into the job? Positive and negative feedback are great intrinsic motivators. The more sources feedback comes from, the more effective it is as a motivator.

2) Lots of Skills
Does the task require more than one skill? Or, on a broader scale, do you rely on the same skill set for every job? If not, how can you adjust the tasks to make it necessary to utilize more than one skill set? When you are required to use a variety of skill sets, you will find that you are more motivated to complete the tasks. No one wants to be "pigeon-holed" by doing the same thing day-in and day-out, with no variety.

3) Autonomy
Do you have autonomy in your job? Do you feel empowered to make decisions and work without being required to accept input from other people?If not, how can you empower yourself to make decisions that affect their day-to-day jobs? When individuals feel they have independence in a task or job, they are more likely to feel motivated to be as productive as possible.

4) Mine
Do you feel a sense ownership of your task? Do you feel accountable if the job is successful or fails? If not, how can you build a sense of ownership into the job? Individuals are more likely to be motivated if they understand they are going to be held responsible for the job because they "own" the job.

5) Effect on Others
Do you feel that you or your job affects others?If not, how can you demonstrate the effect and contribution of your job and task? You need to feel that you are not working in a vacuum, but are a part of the greater good.Also, when people see that their work affects others, they are more motivated to make sure the job is performed to the best of their abilities.

You will find it may take some work or some changes in processes or attitudes, but it is well worth the time and effort to work toward making your business more intrinsically motivating.You will become happier with your jobs, and ultimately more productive.