Focus on Building Honest Relationships

Motivation by manipulation does not work. If you want to take a positive approach to the you way you encourage your employees to do their jobs, you need to build a foundation that emphasizes the connections between employee's home and work lives. Here are four ways to accomplish this:

1. Build high opinions of each other's skills and strengths. Encourage your staff to compliment their colleagues at meetings with like, "Who helped you out this week?" Public praise from peers instead of the boss helps employees focus on their relationship to each other, which reinforces team spirit.
2. Treat each individual as if his or her effort is the most important factor in team success. Pay attention to what people actually do and how their activities affect the bottom line.
3. Reward teamwork. During performance reviews, be sure to note contributions to team goals along with individual effort. Employees will quickly realize the benefits of working toward team goals, and put less emphasis on standing out individually.
4. Let people know you care about them as individuals. If you express interest only in their progress at work, workers will feel manipulated and become cynical. Show them that you are committed to their personal and professional development.