Motivating

Pick winners to go into battle

February 16, 2016
Retired Lt. Gen. Frank Kearney was deputy commander for the U.S. Special Operations Command. The three-star general helped oversee 62,000 people with a $10 billion budget.

The talk that led to the Final Four

January 20, 2016
In 2005, Bob Rotella gave a pep talk to George Mason University’s basketball team. A sports psychologist, Rotella sought to spur the players to see themselves as champions.

Let your imagination fly

December 14, 2015
After Walt Disney’s death in 1966, Marty Sklar rose to lead the company’s “Imagineering” arm, which conceptualizes, plans and builds Disney attractions. Dur­­­­ing the 1970s oil crisis, he dealt with uncertainty over a new park based on one of Disney’s favorite ideas, the Experi­­men­­tal Prototype Community of Tomor­­­row, or EPCOT …

How a ship’s bell rings success

September 21, 2015
Asked for the best ways to motivate her workforce, Cheri Beranek, CEO of ­Minneapolis-based fiber connectivity company Clearfield, says you start by listening and end by celebrating every success.

Why Drew Brees chose the Saints

September 18, 2015

In early 2006, two NFL teams sought to sign star quarterback Drew Brees. Initially, Brees figured he’d choose the Miami Dolphins over the New Orleans Saints. After visiting both cities and meeting with team executives, Brees began to rethink the situation.

Let adversity spur you on

September 2, 2015

Doris Hart won three Wimbledon titles on one day in 1951: singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. But her greatest feat may have been competing in tennis at all.

A morale booster that literally broke the ice

July 28, 2015
One CEO knew his employees needed a big lift after enduring a snowy and frigid winter. Read how his “Summer of Love” gave them a light at the end of the tunnel.

Spark brainstorms with simple steps

June 3, 2015
To spur innovation, it takes more than promoting outside-the-box thinking. You need to cultivate a spirit of openness and inventiveness among your staff.

Motivate staffers by ‘backcasting’

May 4, 2015
Typically, leaders who want to motivate staffers to enhance their performance start by saying, “Let’s set goals for you to push yourself to improve.” That’s not necessarily a good idea.

Boost camaraderie with a free lunch

April 27, 2015
In 2013, the leaders of Pictometry Inter­­national decided to get more bang for their buck to boost morale among their 250 employees. So they focused on food.