It doesn't matter whether you are chairman of a multi-national corporation or a small company with a handful of employees. If you do not know how to encourage, move and motivate your team by using the right words, methods and examples to fill them with enthusiasm and create positive results, you are on a sinking ship which is going down fast...

With this thought in mind, keep your head above water by discovering how you can motivate and inspire your employees. Some questions to consider...

When you speak to your staff as a group, do you walk away feeling excited about their responses or do you feel deflated and frustrated by their lack of joy?

When talking to an individual staff member, do you find yourself filled with passion as you discuss new initiatives and decisions? Is this enthusiasm so contagious that it rubs off onto the entire office or do staff walk away looking as excited as they did when they rose at 7am on a dark, frosty winter morning?

Does your employee's lack of joie de vivre fill you with frustration or do you pay very little concern to their thoughts and feelings?

If you feel that your team are merely turning up for work rather than showing a drive and commitment to work on new ideas, the following suggestions could help to turn your un-motivated employees into the eager beavers that you long for.

Figure out the responses...If you are the type of manager who takes the time to get to know as many of your staff as possible, you are likely to know intuitively how each employee will react to suggestions that you make. Take the time to think of answers in response to any concerns that are likely to be raised so as you can extinguish doubts the moment they arrive.

State your intentions...
Before you talk to your employees, determine the angle that you wish to take when motivating them. Does the particular task you have in mind require them to learn new skills, challenge them or inform them? Deal with this by customizing your proposal to influence the specific area you are aiming for. Be prepared to answer any queries or doubts so as the focus stays on your directive. If staff are assured that you take their concerns seriously they will, in turn be prepared to take an active interest in what you have to say.

Breaking bad news...
No-one likes to break bad news to their employees but done with subtlety and intermingled with optimism, you can sugar coat even the most bitter of pills. Use examples when building morale by recalling situations in the past when you have pulled together as a team to overcome difficulties. Build on this by emulating your positive vision for the future.

Reason with them...
There is nothing that employees find more frustrating than a lack of being able to understand the logic behind a decision. If any of your team members show doubt about a thought or suggestion that you have made, take time to explain the reason why you decided to choose a certain route, choice or action. This brings out the human being in you and makes your choices even more influential.

Wear a piece of your heart on your sleeve...
This does not mean breaking down in front of your employees and showing your Achilles heel. It simply allows you to share your own personal thoughts and feelings about a situation. For example, if you need to lay people off, explain how the process has been a difficult one and how hard you have struggled to stop this from happening.

Encourage opinions...
Don't bore your staff by delivering a long drawn out speech and then walking away without giving them any opportunity to respond...encourage them to ask questions by using a tactic such as "I am thinking along these lines...What do you think?" The more you involve them, the more likely you are to have your opinions accepted.

Big yourself up...
If you are the shy, retiring type you need to turn up the volume on your enthusiasm. Go out there brimming with passion by using key words relevant to success and add some va va voom to your words. A quiet person who can deliver a plan showing bright eyes and enthusiasm could be more persuasive than someone who has a natural ability to motivate. People who are able to witness an elevated mood from someone who is usually non-emotive, are more likely to be intrigued.

Add some emotional incentives...
Look for ways to show your staff that they will benefit from working with you. This keeps the stragglers busy and encourages everyone to work at a rapid pace. In every office there is always one or two who will drag out tasks so as they are not given extra work to do. Nip this in the bud by offering an incentive such as promising the most efficient employer a better parking space, the luxury of leaving an hour early on Friday or a small cash bonus (money usually has the higher incentive).

Expand their skills...
Not everyone likes to learn new skills and the thought of learning something different could actually put the fear of God into some people. Make learning fun by constructing a competition in which people are divided people into two groups. The aim is to mix skilled employees with those who are less knowledgeable. The team which produces the most impressive results receive a reward. People love a bit of friendly competition and it helps to spice up the working week. The benefits for you include a speedier workflow and staff which are more able to multi-task. Perfect if someone is off sick and there are duties which still need to be carried out.

The motivating factor...
Imagine Paul McKenna speaking to your staff every single morning before they begin work. Wouldn't that be a great way to start the day? Sadly, we cannot have Paul McKenna present that 'feel good' factor on a Monday morning but by skimming though a few motivational articles or books, you could easily learn the art of becoming a powerful motivator every single day. Fill your employees with a positive mind set and you are guaranteed to reap positive results.

Let them speak...
Listen to each and every suggestion that your employees offer. Some companies have flourished from ideas which have been raised by staff. As your employees work with your service/ product every day, they are in a better position to discover areas which have room for improvement or ways in which the company could expand. Show them that their ideas are appreciated and they will be more likely to find ways to add to your success.

Just by implementing a few of these ideas into your office routine, you will see a significant change to the way that your staff view their roles. Lead by example and be the first to smile, the first one to say hello and the first one to complement... then watch the benefits unfold every single day.