Motivating people

Using the results of a survey of 380 companies in 34 industries, this author examines three basic types of compensation plans: salary, commission, and combination (salary plus commission). Most companies in the study favored a combination plan, but such plans have some disadvantages to offset their obvious attractiveness. The author sets out the possible reasons […]

Without a clear process, people get discouraged.

Tips from Google and behavioral economics.

How social norms can help people become more sustainable.

Protect your employees from burnout, prioritize retention, and visualize long-term success.

A consensus is emerging that there has been a shift in the attitudes and values of the U.S. work force and that this shift has been accompanied by increased dissatisfaction with many aspects of work. The evidence for this shift and disaffection has emerged from two camps: systematically recorded observations from case studies and surveys […]

How to get them to explore new possibilities instead of exploiting the tried-and-true.

The secret backdating of stock option grants is not just corporate hanky-panky, it is criminally fraudulent. Yet starting in 2006, well over 100 US public...

They’re a reminder that mastery, membership, and meaning are the best motivators.

When employees felt respected and listened to, engagement surged.

It's easy to describe, but takes hard work to create.

Are you getting whiplash from following the stock market the past couple of weeks? You’re not alone. Few people are having much fun on this roller coaster ride. In our previous post, we discussed what managers can do to keep their organizations on the right track in times of economic panic. Here, we offer advice […]

You’re late for work, and it’s pouring rain. In the parking lot, a car speeds around you and takes the last spot near the building entrance. You end up trudging from the back of the lot and get soaked to the skin. You’re mad, and you know your judgment at the moment is probably impaired. […]

You can't really avoid burnout. You can only treat it.

A 30-year-old midlevel manager—let’s call her Fatima—is struggling at work, but you wouldn’t know it from outward appearances. A star member of her team in the marketing division of a large multinational foods company, Fatima consistently hits her benchmarks and goals. She invests long hours and has built relationships with colleagues that she deeply values. […]

On the face of it, it makes sense. If you want to involve your employees more in decision making and shift the organization toward a more participative culture, starting suggestion groups called quality circles seems to be a risk-free way to begin. Having studied many quality circles in different organizations, the authors of this article […]

Show people how their work impacts others.

In the face of unprecedented turnover and uncertainty, even long-term employees may feel destabilized right now.

Five strategies for taking care of yourself so you can care for others.

Don't be afraid to make it fun.