Team Atmosphere

• Motivating a staff of employees toward their potential can be achieved by fostering a collective mindset. Clearly define the roles of each of the employees and how their duties fit within the team. Draw a distinct link between their relatively isolated tasks and the impact on the company's mission. The team mentality engenders a sense of belonging to something greater than yourself, and it bestows an equal amount of responsibility for the success of the organization.
  
  

Goal Setting

• Establish goals and an action plan for achieving the goals. Employees who are privy to the ambitions of the team or company, when given a plan for achieving the established goals, take ownership in their part of the plan. A team member is likely to be more motivated by the success of the mission than by other monetary incentives. The keys to goal setting are to first acknowledge the team and everyone's responsibility toward the mission's completion and to provide a plan for reaching the goal.
  
  

Incentives

• Incentives come in many forms and can be used in creative ways to motivate employees. Learn what types of incentives will make the most difference to your employees. Money is only a reliable incentive if it is enough money to stir the employee into changing his behavior and work habits. Other incentives can be motivating to employees while costing relatively little to the employer or team leader. Incentives that offer privilege and access are common, inexpensive incentives. An example of privilege and access is a preferred assignment or parking space.
  
  

Set the Example

• The work ethic desired by managers and company owners should be embodied by the leader. Employees can determine the standard of the company, what is expected of them, by looking at the ways leaders in the organization go about their business. Provide an example of a standard you would like to see permeate the company and require that your employees match it.