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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010 A WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER COMPILED BY SAM GEIST
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MARKETPLACE LESSONS
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In a session I conducted last week, I asked participants to complete this sentence, Business would be better if only...
How would you finish this sentence? I found that about 65% of attendees found fault in their external situation. They said: Business would be better if only the boss... or if only the competition... or if only the people they worked with...
Only about 35% took ownership for bettering their business. They accepted that business would be better if "I"... Sometimes it is our own perspective we need to examine before we decide what would make our business better.
LESSON LEARNED:"Taking responsibility for our own success, our own improvement, our own happiness has always been the primary factor in making our business better--but it is especially true right now."
-Sam Geist
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THE STATS
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When managers ranked employees' motivation and emotions, "recognition for good work" came out number one. However this multi-year study begs to differ.
They found the top motivator of performance to be "progress." (When workers feel they're making headway in their jobs, or when they receive support to overcome obstacles, their emotions are most positive and their drive to succeed is at its peak).
- On 76% of their best days, survey participants mentioned 'progress.' ('Progress' was mentioned on 25% of their worst days).
- On 43% of their best days, survey participants mentioned 'instrumental support.' ('Instrumental support' was mentioned on 12% of their worst days).
- On 25% of their best days, survey participants mentioned 'interpersonal support."' ('Interpersonal support' was mentioned on 4% of their worst days).
- On 53% of their best days, survey participants mentioned 'collaboration.' ('Collaboration' was mentioned on 43% of their worst days).
- On 19% of their best days, survey participants mentioned 'important work.' ('Important work' was mentioned on 15% of their worst days).
--Amabile & Kramer, Harvard Business Review
To read entire study see first SITE SEEING link below.
---------------------------------------- According to this survey, consumers are incorporating "being green" into their lives (just as Wal-Mart is--see second SITE SEEING link below) and are even willing to pay more for a variety of products that are environmentally friendly or "green." "Greenness" of respondents:
- 8.8%, completely green
- 37.3%, try to be as green as possible, but not 100%
- 43.9%, do some things that are green
- 10%, not green
- Among the 100% completely green respondents, 80% are willing to pay a premium for all product categories including food, garden, home improvment, bedding, health & beauty.
- Among aspirationally green consumers, 60% are willing to pay a premium for food and household products they know to be green.
- Among the 100% green respondents, being green seems to be a lifestyle decision rather than a personal activity.
- 36.6% are motivated to be green to live a better quality life
- 35.4% are motivated to be green because it's good for the community
- 32.9% are motivated to be green because of their desire to make a difference
- 31.5% are motivated to be green to set an example for others to follow.
--BurstMedia | |
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| THE QUOTES |
"The squeaking wheel doesn't
always get the grease.
Sometimes it gets replaced."
-Vic Gold, National correspondent
"Scrupulously avoid impeding (your employees') progress by changing goals autocratically, being indecisive, or holding up resources. Negative events generally have a greater effect on people's emotions, perceptions and motivation than positive ones, and nothing is more demotivating than a setback--the most prominent type of event on knowledge workers' worst days."
-Teresa M. Amabile and
Steven J. Kramer
For research study from which this quote was taken see
first SITE SEEING link below.
For research results from
this study see THE STATS below.
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| SITE SEEING |
New research on what really motivates employees (and people in general).
http://www.samgeist.com/whatreallymotivatesworkers.pdf
Take a look at this slideshow about 11 ways that Wal-Mart is changing retail - for good. Pick up some good ideas and then take a look at several other slideshows of interest on the same page.
http://www.fastcompany.com/pics/11-ways-walmart-changing-retail-good? partner=best_of_newsletter#11
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Connect with Sam Geist
  
Reproduction for publication is encouraged with the following attribution:
From "QuickBites," by Sam Geist. (800) 567-1861 http://www.samgeist.com
Sam Geist lectures, facilitates workshops and conducts training seminars on sales & marketing, the changing marketplace, leadership, differentiation, customer service and staff motivation. His three books, "Why Should Someone Do Business With You... Rather Than Someone Else?" "Would You Work for You?" and "Execute... or Be Executed" are available in bookstores everywhere, published by Addington & Wentworth Inc.
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