Recognition

• For many employees, work is more fulfilling when their efforts do not go unnoticed. To keep your staff feeling good about the work they do, plan ways to recognize them. Give monetary bonuses, flex time, days off, the option to work from home, gift cards or access to company memberships. If your budget is tight, recognition doesn't have to be expensive; simple thank-you notes or personal thank-yous from bosses or managers can go a long way in motivating employees to keep working hard. To motivate employees to be innovative and creative, reward great ideas as well as results.
  
  

Cross-Training

• When employees get overly comfortable with their job, they can get into a rut; in this situation, it can be difficult to muster up any excitement about work. To keep your staff motivated, give them new things to learn by offering cross-training activities. With a renewed purpose and a new focus, your staff will be less likely to get bored. Allow them to choose their own training areas; the employees will be happy and well rounded -- and their new ideas and skills can inform job responsibilities.
  
  

Work Atmosphere

• When the office is a pleasant place, people are more likely to want to come to work. Create an atmosphere that is friendly and comfortable: invest in the decor, create comfortable alternate work spaces and build in places for breaks and meals. Complement the physical atmosphere by creating a tradition of open, positive and friendly communication. Celebrate milestones for the company and individual employees; plus make time for fun during the work day.
  
  

Opportunities for Advancement

• When employees know that their job is not a dead end, that it is leading somewhere, they are more likely to be motivated to work hard to get ahead. Create things for employees to work toward by making opportunities for advancement within the company. Depending on your corporate structure, you might set levels for employees to achieve, new position titles or simply give more responsibility and higher pay. By promoting from within, you can inspire loyalty.