Motivation Tips
Addiction Professionals have very high turnover rates, an estimated 50% in some agencies. -- Source: Self Care, A Guide for Addiction Professionals.
- Treat people with courtesy, politeness and kindness.
- Maintain open communication and encourage staff to express their opinions and ideas.
- Listen to your staff and try to respond to their requests.
- Implement policies and procedures consistently and fairly.
- Include staff in meetings, discussions, trainings, and events.
- Make staff meetings a time to celebrate.
- Give employees their birthday off.
- Give staff some time off (hours, half day, full day) as an incentive for doing something special/extra.
- Spend time with employees. Involve employees in determining their career path goals and development plan. Provide opportunities for training and professional development.
- Provide opportunities for advancement.
- Coach employee skill development.
- Praise more than you criticize and encourage praise among coworkers.
- Foster teamwork. When employees work toward a common goal, performance improves.
- Lead by example. Lead from Mission and Vision.
- Delegate. Employees want job autonomy. Help establish goals for your department and work unit.
- Set understandable expectations and goals for each staff member. Communicate them in a clear, concise manner.
- Manage gossip. Otherwise, interpersonal relationships can be damaged, thus disrupting employee motivation and morale.
- Create a culture of accountability. At meetings have an agenda; start and end on time, and follow-up.
- Create a motivating workplace. Integrate values such as integrity, empowerment, perseverance, equality, discipline and accountability into the organization.
- Think positive! There’s a lot of power in optimistic thinking.
- Let staff know they matter and make a difference.
- Utilize your staff’s talent and skills. Avoid burnout. Give workers added responsibilities, new challenges and advancement opportunities.
- Say thank you. Give them a card of thanks in your own handwriting.
- Respect the work/life balance.
- Laugh. Have some fun. Laughter contributes to positive morale, a major factor in retaining valued employees.
- If applicable - cover a group for your employee so he/she can "catch up" with paperwork.
- Have a "spring cleaning" day when staff can have a day off from their typical schedule to clean up their work space - and/or catch up on paperwork.
- Implement their ideas.
- Involve them in committees to be a "leader" in something they are interested in and knowledgeable.
- Make clinical supervision a weekly priority which can only get cancelled in emergencies
- Get to know your employees. Ask them (safe) personal questions about their family life, hobbies and interests
- Know it is your duty as their manager/supervisor to give your staff the care, tools, and resources they need to be successful.
- REFLECT: What am I doing to take care and give my staff these things?
(27,28,29,30,31)
Click here for Motivational Tools:
The Principles of PAMI, MIA: Step, NIATx™ & Treatment Planning M.A.T.R.S
Click the followings links for:
How do I ensure staff engagement?
Tips for Motivating Your Employees
How to Recognize and Reward Your Employees
Recognition and Performance Management Tips
Coaching Tips
Staff Professional Development
