According to research done by Gallup in 2014, slightly less than a third of U.S. working adults surveyed said they felt engaged at their jobs. According to LearnVest’s Stephanie Taylor Christensen, that means that the other two thirds were “somewhere between not engaged and actively disengaged.” Millennials, in particular, are the most likely generation to feel a lack of opportunity to stand out at work.

People are the most important resource of any company. Not only do employees want to be heard, they want their contributions to be noticed and not taken for granted. For achieving great results, each leader should have a motivation strategy to maintain the spirit of enthusiasm among employees. Here are five simple (yet effective) ways to inspire and motivate your employees!

Make them feel appreciated

One of the greatest needs of most employees is the need to be appreciated. Very often, appreciation can be a greater reward than anything else. Show your sincere gratitude for the unique contribution each employee makes to the organization. A handwritten note expressing why you specifically appreciate their efforts in the workplace can often make a longer-lasting impression than bigger gestures.

Click here for more innovative ways to show your employees your appreciation.

Encourage creativity

Supervising doesn't mean controlling each and every step. Instead, make sure all organizational activities are being implemented at the highest level. Give people the freedom to find their own unique ways of solving problems and completing tasks. You may be surprised at the new ideas they bring to the table, or their different ways to approach a problem, both of which could benefit the company as a whole. Challenge them to think outside the box!

Support growth

If employees feel there is no room to grow within a company they are likely to lose the motivation and decrease the amount of effort they put into their work. Work with your HR team to develop a workplace structure that allows for growth. Not all employees are cut out for management roles and there are often a limited number of managerial positions available within companies, that is why it is important to develop positions with increased pay, responsibilities and educational requirements that don't necessarily involve the management of people. This will ensure your that your top performers have room to grow within your organization and will stay motivated to achieve.

Create healthy competition

A little bit of competition can add fuel to the fire for many performance-driven employees. For this purpose, you can effectively use a reward system - even little rewards like gift cards and catered lunches are greatly appreciated. Employees will contribute their efforts and ideas to a high level when they know that outstanding excellence will lead to rewards. Just make sure that the reward system is absolutely transparent to everyone, and that the rewards are tangible and consistent.

Promote teamwork

Encouraging teamwork within your organization can have huge benefits. Studies show that people are more motivated and productive when they feel a sense of inclusion. Extracurricular sporting activities, company retreats as well as team building exercises and games are just some of the ways you can develop an inclusive team environment.

For a more in depth look at talent management and professional development in your organization, download TPD's HR Cycle E-Book below!