Top Tips for Keeping Your Sales Associates Motivated During The Holiday Season

Employee motivation is the driving force behind exceptional customer service, and during the busiest times in the retail calendar, it becomes even more crucial. As a retail business owner, you understand the impact motivated staff can have on customer satisfaction and overall business success. In this blog, we’ll explore practical strategies to keep your sales associates motivated and how OpSuite, an intuitive EPoS solution can be an essential motivator for your team.

What Is Motivation?

Motivation refers to the internal or external factors that drive a person to take specific actions to pursue goals. Motivation can be influenced by a combination of personal characteristics, external stimuli and the environment.

There are two main types of motivation:

Intrinsic Motivation:

• Intrinsic motivation comes from within an individual. It involves engaging in a behaviour because it is inherently rewarding, enjoyable, or aligned with their personal values and interests.
• Examples of intrinsic motivation include pursuing a hobby, solving a challenging problem, or engaging in an activity for the sheer joy of it.
• Intrinsic motivation tends to result in sustained effort and a genuine commitment to tasks.

Extrinsic Motivation:

• Extrinsic motivation involves engaging in a behaviour to earn external rewards or avoid punishment.
• External motivators may be positive in nature and include financial incentives, praise, or recognition from others. They can also be negative in nature in order to avoid being singled out, punishment or financial penalty.
• While extrinsic motivation can be effective in the short term, it may not lead to long-term commitment if the external motivators are removed.

As a retail business owner, understanding what drives a team of sales associates to work well under the pressure of the holiday season is essential!

1. Hire Employees Who Are ‘Intrinsically Motivated’

To build a motivated team, start by hiring individuals who are intrinsically motivated. Look for candidates who have a genuine passion for your products and industry. During the interview process, ask questions that explore their motivations, career aspirations, hobbies and interest in your business. Intrinsic motivation leads to better engagement, employee satisfaction and long-term commitment. In our previous blog, we shared the top 10 overlooked skills when hiring sales associates. Intrinsically motivated people may be overlooked if the interview process focuses on ‘hard skills’ such as experience over ‘soft skills’ that have more to do with a person’s innate personality traits. Intrinsically motivated employees will be very easy to teach and will have a natural desire to learn and achieve.

2. Build Up Your Employees

We know that starting from scratch and hiring only intrinsically motivated sales associates is probably not going to be an option, so we appreciate that you need to be working with your existing team – however they are motivated. Even if your team is not entirely intrinsically motivated, building them up and empowering them can make a significant difference. Assign responsibilities based on their interests and strengths, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to the success of the business. Not only does this give a sense of pride and achievement, but it also provides clarity and accountability when people have assigned roles. As a retail business owner or manager, your role is to provide guidance, set targets and offer opportunities for professional growth. This approach fosters creativity, builds trust and increases employee engagement.

3. Create a Culture of Appreciation

Recognising and appreciating your employees’ efforts is a powerful motivator for any employee. One of the main grumbles and gripes of any job is not being acknowledged or appreciated for the things that you do. Acknowledge outstanding performance, whether it’s delivering exceptional customer service or achieving sales milestones. But don’t forget to bring the mundane achievements to the forefront: ‘I noticed that you already cleared away the packaging from the delivery this morning, thank you I really appreciate it!’ – Think how that statement would make someone feel and how that might motivate other employees who hear it. Regularly communicate positive feedback, as it contributes to employee retention, encourages engagement and boosts overall performance.

4. Be Clear About Targets

Establishing achievable targets gives your employees a sense of purpose and direction. You can use your EPoS capabilities to set up Sales Targets as an incentive for employees. OpSuite can track individual sales performances for the purpose of celebrating achievement and enabling you to address issues if strategies aren’t working. Clear and measurable targets provide employees with a reason to invest extra effort, enhancing their motivation and overall job satisfaction.

5. Feedback Builds Trust

Your employees will always have an opinion on how your business is run. If you actively seek feedback from your employees regarding the business operations, work environment and any challenges they may be facing, you will find that the conversation is open and honest, rather than an outpouring of frustration. Regular feedback sessions during staff meetings create a culture of open communication and trust. Listening to and acting upon employee feedback not only identifies areas for improvement but also strengthens the employer-employee relationship. Schedule regular check-ins with your team to share insights on the business, provide feedback on their performance and address any concerns. Use these meetings to gauge morale, identify potential issues and maintain a positive work environment. Open communication fosters a collaborative atmosphere and ensures everyone shares the vision for the business’s growth.

6. Give Your Employees The Right Tools

You can have all the intrinsically motivated employees in the world and still fall short of success if your EPoS system is holding you back. By giving your sales associates the right tech which empowers them to work efficiently and to the best of their ability, you can watch your business soar. Invest in your employees’ success by providing regular training sessions throughout the year. OpSuite’s point of sale and inventory management software can be a game-changer, but proper training is crucial. Keep your staff updated on best practices, rules and the latest technologies to ensure they feel confident and motivated in their roles.

7. Take Time to Understand Your Employees

Understand that every employee is unique, with individual needs and challenges. Make conscious efforts to accommodate factors such as family responsibilities, medical issues, or studies to create a supportive work environment. Being attuned to your employees’ personal needs enhances their motivation and dedication to their roles. After all, if your job works for you, you work for your job!

Conclusion

By combining these strategies and investing in the power of OpSuite, you can create a motivated and empowered team that not only survives but thrives during the hectic holiday season. As a retail business owner, investing in the well-being and motivation of your sales associates ultimately translates into satisfied customers and a thriving business. Get ready to unlock the full potential of your team and elevate your retail experience with RMS.

Why Choose RMS?

RMS have worked with ambitious businesses since 2004, supplying tailored software solutions and EPoS hardware from the Shetland Islands to the Seychelles. If you have a team of fantastic sales associates, we can help them thrive with the perfect EPoS technology for your business. Get in touch to find out more!