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 (funny money) for each milestone met. Employees can

also recognize their peers with a sticker of a frog, which is worth $1.

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)

and movies ($25).

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, and Performance. At Melroe Company, employees who submit

ideas to improve quality, cost, and performance are eligible for a $90

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, N.Y., 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, Fla.), Vice-Chairman Joel Marks allows workers

to view TV sitcom tapes (such as "Seinfeld") during the lunch

break.

Southwest

Airlines encourages crewmembers to joke with the passengers.

Terry Deal,

business professor at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., has noted

that companies, which allow some play in the workplace often, realize

higher profits.

(Greg Smith

is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and business performance consultant.

He has written numerous books and has been featured on television programs

such as Bloomberg News, PBS television, and in publications including

Business Week, Kiplingers, President and CEO, and the

Christian Science Monitor. He is the President and "Captain of

the Ship" of a management-consulting firm, Chart Your Course International,

located in Atlanta, Georgia. Phone him at 770-860-9464. More articles

are available at www.chartcourse.com.)

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