Motivating your employees to reach their potential and perform at their best isn’t always an easy task. After all, every employee requires a different combination of support, training, and coaching to help them learn new skills and grow in their capabilities.

However, once you create an environment where each employee has a chance to thrive, you can realize a range of benefits for your organization, culture, and workforce.

How to Help Your Employees Perform to Their Potential

When you unlock the potential within your workforce and help employees to build on their strengths, the possibilities are endless. In fact, a Gallup study found that employers who took action to develop employee strengths realized impressive gains in sales, profitability, and employee engagement. 

Consider the following actions to help your employees reach their potential and achieve maximum performance:

Provide frequent coaching

Research published in the Harvard Business Review found that coaching helps employees develop weaknesses and improve overall performance. However, matching employees with an executive coach isn’t the only way to provide guidance and support for improved performance. By training managers to provide everyday coaching to employees, you can equip them to help their team and direct reports overcome obstacles and build on strengths. 

Foster two-way communication

While manager feedback and coaching can positively impact employee performance, communication should go both ways. By asking employees for feedback through employee surveys and informal feedback loops, you can better understand the resources, tools, and support they need to perform to their potential. 

Offer stretch assignments

Creating opportunities for employees to get out of their comfort zone can help them realize new strengths and capabilities. An excellent way to stretch employees is with assignments that encourage them to test new skills and ways of working. Examples of stretch assignments include rotational programs, lateral moves, and assigning employees to cross-functional task forces.

Outline possible career paths

You may have employees who are eager to perform to their potential, but they have peaked in their current role and need expanded responsibilities. Some employees may have even fallen into a rut and become complacent.

However, by explaining available career paths and promotional opportunities, you can help employees grow in engagement and develop a renewed commitment to high performance. As described by the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), employees “... feel more engaged when they believe that their employer is concerned about their growth and provides avenues to reach individual career goals...”

Develop leaders

Strong leaders set the tone for employee performance throughout your entire organization. By offering leadership development and training—including personal leadership training for individual contributors—you can create a culture where employees consistently aspire to do their best work. 

Provide rewards and recognition

Competitive compensation, benefits, and other kinds of recognition help to show employees you appreciate their contributions. Rewards and recognition can also motivate employees to increase their performance. One study found that even symbolic, non-monetary rewards, such as public recognition and letters of congratulations, can significantly increase employee motivation, performance, and retention.

Match employees with mentors

Pairing employees with mentors gives them a safe space to build new relationships and get career advice and coaching. With the support and guidance of a committed mentor, employees have a chance to explore their skills, career goals, and opportunities for development. 

Cultivate Your Employees’ Potential

Building a culture that maximizes talent is possible when you provide employees with the resources and tools to help them perform. By exchanging feedback, recognizing employee contributions, and offering multiple avenues for development, you can help employees build new capabilities and realize their full potential within your organization. To see how MarvelHR can help, contact us to learn more.

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