Motivating

To motivate people older than you, set big goals

August 24, 2017
Q. I manage people much older than me (I’m 29). They really do know more than me, and they have much deeper industry experience than me. I’ve told them that—and that I don’t have all the answers. But when I say that, they laugh derisively. How can I defer to them without coming across as a softie?

Turning garbage into a gold mine

June 15, 2017
It’s hard enough motivating a white-collar workforce. Imagine trying to motivate garbage collectors.

When motivation no longer does the trick

May 23, 2017
Q. For years, we’ve motivated our sales and service folks with incentives. Our culture is built around contests, fun competitions for bonuses or other prizes and recognition. But the last few contests have produced acrimony. Those who don’t win gripe about the rules and resent the winners. Are we motivating the wrong way?

Why your best talent is leaving, and 4 ways to win them back

April 6, 2017

An interesting phenomenon occurs in most organizations. On day one, most employees are fully engaged as these fresh hires are excited to begin a new experience. And yet, according to Metrus Institute, engagement levels drop considerably during the first few years, and often far more than you would expect after a honeymoon period. Clearly something is going on, and most organizations need these four key actions to minimize this degradation of engagement and reboot it to formerly high levels.

Do one more thing

February 8, 2017
When you think you’re done, always do one more thing.

Employee motivation in one–yeah, just one–easy step

February 2, 2017
Goal-setting focuses energies, opens lines of communication and keeps everyone on track. That’s where an IPP comes in.

Monitor those benchmarks

January 19, 2017
With 2017 upon us, you may consider setting ambitious goals for your team. But think twice before you announce bold targets for the year.

A tiny card’s game-changing message

December 20, 2016
When Bill Swanson became CEO of Raytheon in 2003, he instituted a simple rule. He required all 65,000 employees to carry a laminated card with them at all times.

A small boost can deliver big gains

November 15, 2016
No British rider had ever won the Tour de France when Brailsford took over Team Sky, Great Britain’s professional bicycling team, in 2010. But Brailsford had a simple strategy for success.

Facebook’s hacker culture drives it

November 11, 2016
At Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg adopted an unusual motivational strategy from the start. Rather than prod employees to excel, he and his co-founders left them alone.