Here are a few new tips you

can adapt to help you create a more productive and motivating work environment.

Recognize with a Title: Employers

have discovered that people do care about their job titlessometimes they

will even choose the better title over more pay. A recent graduate with

a desire to move up in a chosen career field may feel that acquiring a

title which will look good on the resume is worth accepting a little less

money. Recruiters have discovered that they receive a better response

with well-chosen job titles. You can also encourage an employee by giving

him or her a prestigious title even if you cannot afford to pay more money.

Gold Stars and Frogs: At Wachovia

Bank, each Monday morning they set milestones for the week with input

from staff members. On Friday, employees receive a Gold Star and $2.00

(funny money) for each milestone met. Employees can also recognize their

peers with a sticker of a frog, which is worth $1.00. Staff members display

the gold stars and frogs on a white cardboard poster. At the end of each

month, they hold a random drawing for a dinner ($50.00) and movies ($25.00).

Generate Competition! A tip

from the US Air Force. Once each quarter the Wing Commander recognizes

the airman, NCO and Sr. NCO of the quarter at a Commander,s Call. Nominations

come from within each unit, which then works to support their nominee,

thereby generating competition between units.

Birthday Club. Energize your

employees with fun! Once a month hold a Monthly Birthday Club celebration.

At break-time, have special goodies and recognize employees who have a

birthday that month with a card.

Reward Good Health. At Cornell

University, an Excellent Attendance Program rewards employees who do not

use a sick day within a six-months period with a day off, plus a certificate

of recognition given at a special luncheon.

Improve Quality, Cost, Performance.

At Melroe Company, employees who submit ideas to improve quality, cost,

and performance are eligible for a $90.00 gift certificate to Wal-Mart.

At a yearly banquet for all contributors, the company also gives larger

cash awards and items such as televisions.

Work to Earn Time Off. At Grayson

College Golf Course, employees who did not miss a day of work for three

weeks received a day off, which they could use on days when bad weather

meant the course was not busy.

Butts for Balls. At Pine Oaks

Golf Course, employees receive one bag of range balls for picking up one

cup of cigarette butts.

A Work of Art at NASA. The

graphics artist made caricatures of different groups and used the artwork

pictures as awards which team members proudly display them on their desks.

Eventually, everyone on the team got a picture.

Create an Employee Activity

Fund. A tip from the Navy. Use an annual auction to raise employee activity

funds. Management agrees to contribute (i.e., paying for a round of golf).

Funds raised from the auction are used for office functions, etc.

Fun at Work. Consider these

ideas to boost employee morale.

· At Certilman, Balin,

Adler & Hyman (East Meadows, NY law firm) they hold a free lunch in

the conference room each day for all 25 partners. Started as an opportunity

to discuss business, it soon turned into an enthusiastic social gathering.

· At JW Genesis Financial

Corp. (Boca Raton, FL), Vice-Chairman Joel Marks allows workers to view

TV-sitcom tapes (such as Seinfeld) during the lunch break.

· Southwest Airlines encourages

crew members to joke with the passengers.

· Terry Deal, business

professor at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, has noted that companies

which allow some play in the workplace often realize higher profits.

Free by e-mail/fax: If you

would like more tips and/or information on Greg,s new book, TNT for Teams:

Dynamic Ideas to Reward, Energize and Motivate Your Team, please fax us

your letterhead or E-mail with the words TNT to 770-760-0581/[email protected]

or visit https://www.chartcourse.com/tntorderform.html

Gregory P. Smith, author of

The New Leader, and How to Attract, Keep and Motivate Your Workforce.

He speaks at conferences, leads seminars and helps organizations solve

problems. He leads an organization called Chart Your Course International

located in Conyers, Georgia. Phone him at (770)860-9464 or send an email

at [email protected]. More information and articles are available at

www.chartcourse.com.

Free by e-mail/fax: For more

tips or information on Smith's new book, "TNT for Teams: Dynamic

Ideas to Reward, Energize and Motivate Your Team," fax your letterhead

or e-mail with the words "TNT" to 770-760-0581/[email protected].

Gregory P. Smith, author of

"The New Leader," and "How to Attract, Keep and Motivate

Your Workforce." He speaks at conferences, leads seminars and helps

organizations solve problems. He leads an organization called Chart Your

Course International in Conyers, Ga. Phone him at 770-860-9464 or send

an e-mail at [email protected]. Information and articles are at www.chartcourse.com .

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