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 […]

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

It's natural to feel distracted when times are tough.

Talking about whistling while you work. Lindon Beckford, who works in the patient transport department at a Boston hospital, takes that adage to a new level. Not satisfied with schlepping gurneys from room to room, this native Jamaican has turned the hospital into his own personal concert hall: he strolls from ward to ward singing–from […]

Don't turn it into a competition.

A doctor’s prescription for achieving peak performance.

Four ways to empower people to use their voice.

Put people at the center of your company's purpose and declare your "interdependence".

Jim Whitehurst, CEO of Red Hat, explains how to inspire, motivate, and empower people at all levels to act with accountability.

Three research-backed benefits.

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 […]

Boston is bathed in green now that the Celtics have secured their 17th World Championship banner after a 22-year drought. I had the great fortune to attend Game 6 and cheer on this likeable team, as three spectacular performers (Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen) coalesced to do together what none of them had […]

This one little word can dramatically shift the tone of a conversation.

Jim Keane, president and COO of Steelcase Inc., explains where managers should devote their time; their job isn't to be the smartest person in the room--it's...

In a famous experiment, researchers ran a lottery with a twist. Half the participants were randomly assigned a lottery number. The remaining half were given a blank piece of paper and a pen and asked to write down any number they would like as their lottery number. Just before drawing the winning number, the researchers […]

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. […]

Five questions with Alan G. Robinson, Coauthor of Ideas Are Free (Berrett-Kohler, 2004)

A company's most important asset isn't raw materials, transportation systems, or political influence. It's creative capital--simply put, an arsenal of...

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 […]

“If there’s one thing the winners of the Boston Globe’s 100 Top Places to Work have in common, it’s this: They all believe it’s good business to keep employees satisfied, motivated, and working hard. Show them respect,” says Shirley Leung, assistant managing editor of business news for the Globe. But not every company is so […]