Are you used to pleading, forcing, cajoling, and nagging employees just to get results? Yes, it’s not that hard to come up with ways to motivate employees, but majority of the workforce today is practically immune of the incentives and motivational tactics management throws at them. Coaching, they’ve had that. Rewards, well the previous company they worked with probably had a better incentive package.

Often, the problem is in devising creative ways to motivate employees month after month.  Once the employees are motivated to work harder, the next challenge is to keep them that way.

Your C-level position shouldn’t hinder you from reaching out to employees. Here are 4 creative ways  for you as the CEO to motivate employees.

1. Treat employees, regardless of their position, as a valued business partner. Understand that their work, no matter how little, is important in the overall performance of your organization. Make it a point to go out of your office and talk to people in different capacities- it doesn’t even have to be a formal conversation.
2. Let employees savor the fruits of their labor. In the food and beverage industry, it’s a customary for the chefs and crew to enjoy a meal they’ve prepared. For Starbucks, I hear baristas get two beverages on the house. It ensures high quality produce because of course the staff wouldn’t want to ruin the food they’ll have to eat later.  Now why can’t other industries apply this practice?
3. Allow employees to claim ownership of the company. Team engagement and motivation will be low so long as employees feel that they’re just working to help you and the company to earn more money.  This goes back to tip#1- treat employees as partners, but it goes beyond remembering their names and inviting them for coffee at your office.  This time, you’re moving from making all the decisions and goals on your own, to sharing the whole process of running the business with your team. Include the team in the planning process by emphasizing their stake in the company’s success. You can even give stock options, if the company is public.
4. Give them power. Try doing a “CEO of the Day” or “Manager of the Day” program by picking a deserving employee every quarter then giving him the privileges and responsibilities of said position for a day. This works well for two reasons: 1) chosen employee experiences what it is like to have a corner office, which will inspire him to work harder, 2) and on the flipside, he will also experience the challenges of being the boss, thus increasing his respect for the management and eradicating any doubts he may have about his boss.

As a CEO, you might think that finding ways to motivate employees isn’t part of your job description anymore. It’s true that your job is mainly to chart the direction of the company but if you think about it, you still need motivated employees if the business is to move forward in your chosen direction.