Sirota, Mischkind, and Meltzer suggest some ways individual managers can motivate employees…
1. Instill an inspiring purpose.
2. Provide recognition.
3. Be an expediter for your employees.
4. Coach your employees for improvement.
5. Communicate fully.
6. Face up to poor performance.
7. Promote teamwork.
8. Listen and involve.
Honestly, haven’t you heard these kinds of solutions often enough before? I mean, it’s not rocket science. The real reason that things haven’t improved is this: nothing will change because it’s the system that isn’t working…I recommend you read this manifesto ‘why your boss is programmed to be a dictator” at http://www.changethis.com/19.BossDictator
Hmmmmm, yes, unfortunately there are some boss-dictators out there, but chances are they’re not reading my blog. I post this simply for the rest of us who need some helpful ideas for managing better.
You’re right it’s not rocket science, it’s much harder! Rockets are a known quantity; for about 60 years we’ve known how to build them and the equations that determine their performance. We can program a computer to design new rockets. But getting a team of people to work well? Not so easy.