Top Six Factors That Lead to Workplace Success

What is it that truly motivates us? Here are the top six elements that fire us up and push us to thrive.

Competition
Liz Range, renowned designer of maternity fashions, including her Liz Lange for Target collections, says she is driven by competition. “ It is of utmost importance to me to stay ahead of the game and be the best,” Lange admits. Competition is one of human nature’s built-in motivators. That explains why Employee of the Month programs are so prevalent. From retail to accounting to fast food, most businesses have some type of employee competition that relies on the power of recognition to encourage employees to strive for excellence.


Project Ownership
Bonuses and other traditional monetary incentives can spur employees to give it their all. But ownership of a project is also a catalyst for giving your all. Lange says. “Financial gain aside, I think most people are motivated by personal goals and the feeling they have accomplished something meaningful. If employees feel they can directly contribute to the company’s success by holding ownership of key projects, they will feel an alliance to the company.”


Balanced Work Atmosphere
How an employee feels about his job can either stimulate or suppress motivation. That’s why allowing employees to strike a good balance between home and work is so important. Relieving the pressures of maintaining work-home balancing acts keeps employees energized to meet their goals—both personal and professional. Companies would be wise to recognize that flexible work arrangements and mandatory vacation time could be as important as monetary incentives to keep employees inspired and productive. Lange stresses this concept in her own company, “I like to encourage my employees to recognize that taking quality time for themselves out of the office will help to keep them fresher and more focused on their jobs.”


Reducing Clutter
Cleaning the slate and culling through the numerous distractions in your life can pull you out of a funk and help you focus on the goals truly important to you. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed and things seem hopeless and we lose direction. Prioritizing activities in our lives helps us regain the drive and enthusiasm to take on and achieve our goals.


Try Something New
Sometimes motivation comes from a source outside your normal comfort zone. “To those of us who feel ‘stuck in a rut,’ need to make a significant change to our normal routines. Try replacing a bad habit with a new, more positive and healthy one. Leave your normal comfort zone and make the extra effort to continually challenge yourself to become a better employee.


Positive Attitude
Having an upbeat attitude is so important to succeed. But every now and then, we all have one of those days. Lange suggests you head to the gym to flush out the stresses of the day and remember you can start fresh tomorrow. And remember, she says, “if you feel passionately about what you do, you are so much more apt to aim high.”