The Richard Spooner Column: The art of motivation�

I 've worked in places where the HR policy was almost “the floggings will continue until morale improves ”.

We can all be grateful that times have taken an upturn on the human relations front, no more so than in the current Covid-19 lockdown.

Staying in work has alone been a big enough challenge but the sort of restrictions under which most people are working - unimaginable 12 months ago - present unprecedented morale challenges.

Experts agree that keeping colleagues motivated while they are working at home and communicating only by electronic means is one of the biggest hurdles facing businesses of all shades this year.

I 'm grateful for some guidance to Instant Offices, part of The Instant Group, who are a workspace innovation company “that rethinks workspace on behalf of its clients, injecting flexibility, reducing cost and driving enterprise performance ”.

Based on a New Year study by YouGov, the UK-based international research data and analytics group, Instant Offices discovered:

• Changing careers remains as one of the top five resolutions for Brits, particularly within the 18-24 age group.

• Around 40 per cent of UK employees admit to being bored at work, and more than half think their existing skills are being wasted.
• During lockdown in the UK, 24 per cent tried to learn a new language, while 19 per cent brushed up on IT and digital skills.
• 68 per cent hadn 't received a pay rise or promotion in the last year, leading to unhappiness at work.
• 37 per cent think they deserve to be paid more for their job.

A fairly sad litany of dissatisfaction - restlessness, boredom, learning new skills, unhappiness and pay.

I suppose it doesn 't take a crisis to provoke that sort of reaction but working in solitary at home may set minds racing.

But Instant Offices have come to a positive conclusion that as we have settled into flexible schedules and working remotely, managing work-life balance may now be slightly more straightforward. But staying motivated was still a challenge, especially in January, they say.

To improve motivation, they advise:

• Prioritise mental health
• Practice gratitude
• Find career support
• Stay busy
• Upskill yourself
• Ask for an Increase

The last point might be a bit tricky in these straitened times as many firms struggle to stay in existence let alone increase salaries. However, as of August 2020, 37 per cent of Britons thought they deserved to be paid more, according to YouGov.

And a poll of 5,000 people showed 68 per cent hadn 't received a pay rise or promotion in the past year, leading to unhappiness at work.

Good luck with the bid for a rise. And as Instant Offices say, nobody knows what 2021 will bring. But taking charge of your happiness one step at a time could help contribute to a better work-life ahead for the New Year, say Instant Offices

For fuller advice before you confront the boss go to www.theinstantgroup.com not me�