Motivating For Performance: How Can A Leader Motivate Employees to Work Hard and Perform at Optimum Levels? Columbus, GA Friday, March 18, 2011 Understanding why employees perform the way they do on the job is not an easy task for leaders. Fortunately, enough new techniques and information about motivation are available to transform employee's effort and performance.

Motivation refers to actions that energize, direct, and sustain a person's efforts. Highly motivated people will work hard toward achieving performance initiatives. To be effective motivators, leaders must know what characteristics they want their motivated people to display. Many ideas have been proposed to help leaders motivate people to perform at optimum levels.

The Startup Business Coachâ„¢, Dr. Dwayne D. Jakes, believes leaders should identify the kinds of behavior needed to motivate people. Leaders need to motivate employees to join, and remain in the organization, work efficiently, increase job performance and display proper decorum during work hours. Effective leaders implement principles for setting goals. Goal setting is a powerful motivator. Dr. Jakes, states specific, quantifiable, but attainable goals motivate high effort and performance. Goal Setting can be used for teams as well as individuals

Finally, summarize how to reward good performance effectively. Most organizations use positive reinforcements through salary increases, paid vacation, or restricted stock options; but other important consequences are negative reinforcement, punishment, and termination. Forward Thinking Leaders use a variety of rewards for optimum performance. They also understand how to mentor, manage mistakes and provide useful feedback.