The following four tips on what to do if subordinates are bored and lack motivation were published by Management Issues.
Find out if you are micromanaging
Boredom, loss of energy, reduced productivity and lack of motivation are typical responses to micromanagement. Are you sure you are not guilty of this? Are you really giving subordinates enough space without monitoring their every move?
Incorporate game elements into your work
Gamification can turn even a boring, routine job into a fun one. How? For example, by organising small competitions. Who can close the most deals in a week? Who can come up with the most original name for a new product? Who will win the vote for the funniest blog post? Whatever your team's area of focus, with a little creativity gamification can be incorporated practically anywhere.
Allow subordinates to learn and develop
Stagnation kills motivation. When an employee looks ahead a few years and sees they have no chance to advance anywhere or learn anything new, it is only natural for them to lose all enthusiasm. If you want to keep subordinates motivated, you need to allow them to keep learning and developing their knowledge.
Offer subordinates some deeper meaning to their work
Many rank-and-file workers lack a deeper meaning in the work they do. Even a high salary is not a cure for when an employee feels what they are doing is not making any difference in the world. So try to give subordinates' work some meaning. One way, for example, might be a commitment by the company to invest 1% of all profits in sustainability or helping endangered animals.
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