What works to motivate your staff?

[ava_camen]

team building always work better especially when compared to commission basis rewards.

[robinsonwang]

My next tip is to know every staff member's name, and use it when talking to them. Don't just say "hello", say "Hello {username}". (And for guests visiting, you're just not going to get that personal touch unless you register).

I've heard it said that the sweetest sound for any person is to hear someone else saying their name.

My biggest challenge with this is that I'm really bad with names.

This one is great. The moment when you say robinsonwang, i got excited and proud because you have remembered me. Once employee's name remembered by his boss or someone he/she admired, then the power from their heart was motivated. To remember one't name is a respect to him and is also a good tool to build a good relationship. The first i went to a salesman training course, the teacher only asked us to remember the name of the classmates around you and more details about others. if you can do this, the teacher will give a hight point to you.
wow, name is great.

[adrianh]

A good whipping is just the thing.

[cibecs]

We've got a company blog going - it's great for idea sharing and the occasional boast... we use wordpress. It's had a marked impact on company team building - communication between departments and has given the sales team added motivation as they get recognition via the blog.

[bjsteyn]

My biggest challenge with this is that I'm really bad with names. I have to work very hard at it to get a new name stuck in my head. And even then I go blank sometimes.

Ha ha .. I am just as bad, and hate it when i have to ask a second time ...

And the worst part is i am person that if i ask how it is going, i really want to know, even if it is not going good at all. But, dam names.

From my programming point of view as a freelancer, it makes my day when people appreciate my effort and sees the little bits of genius in it. I normally do more than what is asked of me, as programming is part of me, and i take pride in what i do.

[wynn]

Living in the Eastern Cape you can get away calling everybody 'Boet' or 'Swaar'

[bjsteyn]

Living in the Eastern Cape you can get away calling everybody 'Boet' or 'Swaar'

I am from the generation where it is either "balsak" if you are afrikaans or "buddy" if you are english, although i don't call manny people "balsak", just my friends.

[Blurock]

Adrianh, I can not agree with you more. Treating people with respect costs nothing, yet it is so rewarding that I fail to understand why not everybody does it. It works in business, private life, politics, travel and.... and...

[HR-Student]

Know them well enough to know what drives them and then use that as a motivator to get them to work more... miracles really happen with this trick....

[Madison Scott]

If you want to motivate your staff them the encourage them for their good work. Give them Applause, Attention and many more for their good work.

[mother]

I motivate my staff by sharing our strategies and financials with them, including the factory staff. Obviously, I only share what they will understand, but enough to be a true reflection of how the business is performing. That way, they understand how increases are calculated and what influences it. They understand how working harder affects profit, which could lead to better increases. Basically, they become "engaged" employees.

[Blurock]

The problem is that many of our managers are not leaders. A leader will address a problem and fix it, not just moan about how unproductive and bad staff is. A leader sets the example. He does not wait for staff to greet him, but greets staff first. He does not listen to gossip and he does not have favourites. Everyone is treated the same - with respect and dignity. A leader does not demand respect, but earns it.

It is so sad that leadership is often lacking in politics and business alike. Personal entitlement and greed has unfortunately taken over.