How to Motivate Female Employees

Seasoned employers know that there is a difference in the needs of male and female employees. Males are often driven by a paycheck, whereas women are more inclined to take a pay cut in exchange for a desirable work environment. While men look to excel by moving up in their companies and developing their careers, many female employees (although not all, of course) are concerned with gaining a position that simply allows them more freedom and flexibility, as well as the opportunity to make a difference and display their talents. This being true, employers can no longer rely on antiquated motivational tactics, which were originally developed for men, to get the most productivity from their female employees. The key to getting a female to give her all in the workplace is to understand what it is that really spurs her on, and how to use that to your advantage.

First, you must understand how extremely vital a good working environment is for your female employees. Minimizing stress and creating a friendly atmosphere are a must. While men are able to zero in on their breaking points, women have a habit of working so hard that they wear themselves out. Add unnecessary stress to the mix, and what you'll find is an office full of disgruntled, moody, and unproductive women. Sound familiar? To avoid, or alleviate, this problem, create an office that is well run and effectively maintained on your part. Minimize office supply shortages, create well structured deadlines and schedules, and remember to keep your commitments to the staff. I personally had a boss who created a great deal of unnecessary stress for me and my coworkers by not showing up to work regularly, not writing down important details that were relayed to him, and forgetting that he had promised us certain days off (an enormous mistake to make against female workers who often schedule days off for important family functions, rather than vacations or illnesses). In return, his employee turnover rate remained extremely high (I saw five employees quit the small retail store in my one year there) until changes were made. Not only should you avoid similar mistakes, but you might even go that extra mile to create a serene environment. Think along the lines of relaxation CD's, meditation areas, and aromatherapy. These are small additions that many corporations have learned can greatly increase productivity, especially among female workers.

Secondly, consider using recognition, rewards, and competition to motivate your workers (this works well for male employees, also). Women need to display their talents and know that they are being appreciated. Working for a boss that overlooks those needs is degrading, especially when females today are working with the knowledge that their mothers and grandmothers were forced to work without any respect, and that many places of employment still offer little in these areas for women. As mentioned before, men work for a paycheck, which works as a tangible piece of evidence that lets them know that they are appreciated. Women, even in this modern world, have their families and homes on the mind first. That means they often forgo advancement opportunities that would offer higher paychecks but place greater demands on their already limited time. My own mother has given up the position of head nurse in the NICU unit she works in because of the time demands it would have place upon her, regardless of the paycheck it offered that she certainly could have used. For this reason, employers can greatly benefit by offering their workers competitions, either against their own previous performances or against others, that offer incentives for completion. For example, you might offer a half day off of work near the holidays in exchange for meeting a high sales quota that month. Get creative, and ask for input from your employees as to what incentives would be best. Be ready to compromise, because they will initially ask for more than you are ready to give, but that's to be expected. Be flexible and come to a middle ground.

Next, consider providing opportunities for self-advancement for your female employees. Free courses, certificate programs, and incentives for completing higher education requirements are excellent ways to not only keep your female employees loyal, but also to refine the skills of your workforce. You see, women are extremely pressed for time as it is. We often neglect to further advance our knowledge because it is not a necessity to keep our jobs, even though we would like to. Give your female employees paid opportunities to sharpen their skills, increase their knowledge, and become more valuable to you.

Finally, create an environment that is family friendly and you will have loyal female employees forever. Most men aren't usually worrying about PTA meetings, baking cookies for a Girl Scouts meeting, picking up the kids from daycare, etc. For whatever reason, women still perform most of these chores. Whether that's fair or not is irrelevant. It's simply a fact. Therefore, providing daycare vouchers (or, even better, daycare within the office itself), flexible schedules, and being lenient when being asked for time off to tend to family duties are steps you can take to ensure your female employees work hard for you. These opportunities don't exist everywhere, and even female employers often aren't compassionate toward their employees' family issues, so being family-friendly will make you a highly desirable employer, regardless of what you pay. If you hire mostly females, make this your first priority. What you shell out in added expenses will come back to you forever in increased productivity and happier, healthier employees.

Keeping the aforementioned tips in mind can decrease the number of sick days used, increase work ethic, improve company morale, and, finally, spur the financial growth of your company. Savvy employers are catching on to the fact that females are dominating the general workforce, and the needs of that workforce are very specific. What you do to cater to your female employees can determine your own success. Beat out the competition for well trained employees by starting small, and continue adding to your arsenal of female-friendly incentives over time.