We all implicitly understand that some jobs are more tiring than others. That doesn’t mean they’re tiring in the same way. You might be sad in a comfortable executive ergonomic chair, managing architectural plans in an air-conditioned office, but your mind is working overtime. Someone might have the barista routine as second nature now, but that doesn’t mean being stood up all day is any less draining.
You can love your job, but it does require an investment of energy if you’re doing good work. In the more tiring jobs, such as hospitality, construction, and in technical fields requiring travel, it’s often the case that staff feel exhausted at the end of a shift. As a manager, it’s hard to prevent the very natural emotion of burnout and tiredness that may have someone dreading to go to work in the morning. Most of us accept some level of strain as a natural part of our jobs, but how do you, as a leader, keep up motivation and willingness despite that?
Well, you can’t crack the proverbial whip like some incompetent bosses, because that’s a great way to suffer higher staff turnover and stain your reputation.
In this post, we’ll discuss healthier ways to encourage good work even during intense periods:
Streamline All The Logistical Stress
Ultimately, you have to take it back to basics. That means as a manager, you can do a lot to ease the burden on your team by making sure all the practical parts of their job are administered well, so they can focus on the work. At a minimum, this means ensuring schedules are sane, communication can be relied on, and they’re paid accurately and on time for their hard work. Using dependable payroll software can help ensure that everyone gets their paycheck without any issues, which is one of the most stressful parts of a job for anyone, as a single day of delayed payment can lead to bills or charges racking up.
Encourage Rest & Recuperation
No one can work at full capacity without proper rest. A team that feels like they are being worked into the ground is going to be less motivated and more prone to burnout, no matter how much your firm prides itself on its grind or hustle culture. As a leader, it’s very important to make sure your employees are taking their breaks and that their days off are respected, and to respect sickness and have pathways to report any medical or mental health issues. You should also try to create a culture where people feel comfortable asking for time off when they need it, so they can properly recharge and come back to work feeling energized and ready to go, though of course, that’s not a “free time off” grant, only that when your employees support you, they know you can support them back.
Point To The Smaller Progressions
A positive atmosphere can be a great way to combat the exhaustion that comes with a demanding job. You should always try to find ways to recognize and celebrate your team’s successes, no matter how small they seem, because giving a simple thank you for completing a tough task or sharing a positive piece of feedback from a client to the right person could motivate them for another month. Just be sure to give this praise appropriately and don’t shower it all the time, because that feels false.
With this advice, you’ll be certain to keep staff motivated even in a tiring job.