The GUV'NOR

Is motivation the thing that makes us get up in the morning and go to work, or is it just the pay packet at the end of the week?

Money motivates us all and without it our daily lives can become a drudge. But what else can be done to promote that feel-good factor?

Motivation means giving that little bit extra to your staff to enhance their esteem and feelings of self-worth. Everyone should go to work with enthusiasm, commitment and confidence. It is about challenging people, getting them excited about new projects, products and working practices.

Motivated managers, staff and teams work well together in providing customer care and service which is cost-effective and efficient.

These things do not happen overnight, are not ad hoc and should not be left to luck. What motivates one individual may not motivate another.

At interviews I frequently hear new recruits use the phrase "I work well in a team" but a few months down the line it's "I don't seem to fit in". This is quite normal as a team needs time to develop. Staff look for leadership, guidance and clear goals which can help appease any conflict and start the team pulling together and working as a fully functioning unit.

Best team performances usually come from mixing the different personalities and traits of individuals.

Feedback plays an important role so one-to-ones and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis are a vital part of team building.

Another way to achieve the feel-good factor is through empowerment. Allow your staff, for example, to decide on their team uniform, let them choose the colour, style etc and let them have input in decision making.

Start training will also motivate. The BII award in responsible alcohol retailing is cost effective, taught in-house and adjudicated on the phone. Follow this with the BII Customer Care Qualification, and the Professional Bar Persons Certificate is automatically issued.

By now your team should be looking and feeling good and brimming with confidence. So how do we keep it that way? Motivational prize games, incentives, team-building days, charity work, trade show visits or even a freebie training day are all great motivational tools to keep your team stimulated.

Above all, be passionate and listen to your staff - they look to you for guidance and inspiration. It's easy to become demotivated so don't allow it to happen.