Posted on: Monday, September 10, 2001

60 Seconds on Business
A winning work team is a motivated one

By Dr. Drake Beil
President, Solutions Inc.

Did you want to get up and go to work today?

What is the key to your motivation? If you're a manager, what is the key to your associates' motivation? Where does it come from?

Great managers optimize the talent they have, and often are able to create a championship team by just ensuring that everyone contributes to the best of their abilities.

Not everyone can rebound. Not everyone can score. But when one gets rewarded for performing, one's buy-in increases because compensation follows effort.

It feels good and sounds simple, but it's hard to do. That's why people have always been looking for new motivational tools, the next buzzword or the latest fire walk, instead of doing the sound organizational design and making the needed changes to pay for performance fairly. To tell the truth, almost all the buzzwords work to some extent, because people respond to reasonably sincere attempts from management.

Excellent morale involves communication and collaboration. Success is not based on status, but on contribution.

Companies need to build commitment rather than take it for granted. They build commitment by offering project opportunities and performance-based pay. The new loyalty is to the project team trying to complete a mission that offers challenge, growth and credit for results.

The new security is not employment security but security based on an individual's increased value.

Reach Dr. Drake Beil at drake@60secondsonbusiness.