Motivating Employees

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Author(s): Lynn Jackson is vice president of client services for OI Partners-Russell Montgomery (Memphis)

According to a recent poll by New York-based Towers Perrin, 75 percent of employees believe they can have a direct impact on their company's success, and 72 percent have a sense of accomplishment from their jobs. The book "Contented Cows Give Better Milk" by Bill Catlette and Richard Hadden states that employees want six things to be happy at work: meaningful work, high standards, a sense of direction and purpose, freedom to pursue things that are important to them, a level playing field and to feel competent in their work.

The best companies are the best because they consistently achieve these goals for their employees.

Successful companies learn how to get employees to use their best efforts on a daily basis. Getting the best from employees requires the softer management skills. Managers must work to inspire and challenge individuals to do their best work. Quality of one-on-one relationships with managers and the trust and respect that managers show every day determine whether employees feel like they are valued by the company. The most valued employees are those willing to share new ideas, undertake new initiatives and are good at decision making.

Work environment is important in either helping or inhibiting an employee's ability to get work done. This can be done by making the workplace more inviting or having a morale building celebration.

Examples of Good Motivators

Asking employees their opinion, providing timely information that is important to them or involving them in decisions that directly affect their jobs are effective ways to keep employees engaged. For example:

* During the busiest time of the year, executives at Signet Group push coffee carts around the office and serve coffee. The executives take the time to hear what it's like to be on the front lines in dealing with the customers. Executives have a chance to coach and encourage employees.

* Southwest Airlines's CEO helps with the beverage cart during flights so that he can see what the crews really have to deal with.

* Employees who have a sense of ownership in the company and the work they do are energized employees. Cooper Tires allows its machine operators to stamp their names on the finished tires as they are coming off the line.

* One of the tour guides at Wright Medical Technology, an orthopedic device manufacturer, had a hip replacement. The people on his team were responsible for making the hip joint socket that went into his hip replacement. There was a great deal of pride as they talked about how they made a part that went into the body of someone they knew and cared about.

* All new employees want to feel wanted and needed. Successful companies go out of their way to make them feel welcomed. This is especially important when companies acquire or merge with other companies. Energizing companies go out of their way to welcome newcomers and absorb them into the company culture. AT&T went the extra mile when they acquired a small telecommunications company. All employees received coupons for AT&T discounts, handwritten greetings from AT&T employees, the AT&T mission statement, a welcome video from AT&T executives, a poster & tee shirts with the phrase "Who will lead the future of communications. . .we will" and stickers with the phrase "we will."

* A Philadelphia travel agency holds themed dinner parties for its employees. The parties feature Hawaiian shirt night and other fun ideas to help employees relax and enjoy each other's company.

* Erie Magnetic, a production company in Erie, Penn., engraves employees' names and job titles on large plaques that are hung above the work area in the plant. People like to see their names posted in a place of honor.

* Celebrations are important in improving morale. One company in Ontario, Canada, had employees place push pins in a world map to show their country of origin. It was then placed in the lobby and was a clear and very visual acknowledgement of the company's diversity. The map also sent a strong message to new employees, visitors and clients that the company recognized and celebrated diversity.

* Cleveland's Original Copy Center Inc. prints an employee yearbook with photos, favorite music, best childhood memory and "my role at Original."

* Douglas Aircraft Distribution & Service Company in Long Beach, Calif., allows its employees to ring a large brass bell that can be heard throughout the plant whenever they generate $10,000 in production.

* Pioneer Eclipse Company in North Carolina takes customers on tours of the manufacturing plant and introduces them to the line workers who make their products. The employees are very proud to tell the clients about the part they play in producing the products. And the employees have great ownership of the process because they know the person who will be receiving it.

Lynn Jackson is vice president of client services for OI Partners-Russell Montgomery in Memphis. She has over ten years of experience in career management and human resources consulting. Lynn can be reached at 901-763-1818 or ljackson@oipartners.net.

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