February 2010
So where does real Employee Motivation come from?
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Thu, 2010-02-11 09:00
As a “motivational” speaker in the eyes of some people and clients, I’m often asked where real employee motivation comes from. It has always been my opinion that companies falsely believe motivation comes from employees’ back pocket – in other words the money they take home at the end of the month.
I know, however that almost every employee I talk with complains that there is always too much month at the end of the salary. If that is the case around the world, why are these people still working for the same company that does not pay them “enough”?
Thomas Edison, sports people and your next Presentation
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Wed, 2010-02-17 13:07Throughout their careers, sportsmen and women will take part in thousands of races. Business people will make thousands of presentations - most of which will fall on (kinda) deaf ears. Unless they fall in the rare 0,5% who chose their parents correctly, like Steve Jobs, Bruce Fordyce, Mark Allen and Lance Armstrong, they will achieve winning or exceptional results in only a hand-full of the events they start. Mentally speaking, the biggest challenge in every event is to replicate your best performance time and time again. Champions become what they are through consistent performance.
Why your business is affected by doctor’s waiting room decor from the 70’s and air travellers are ratty.
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Thu, 2010-02-18 14:51
Last week I was waiting to check in at the airport and was confounded by the rudeness of fellow travellers toward the airline after a delay. This morning, while having a meeting at a coffee-shop at an upmarket mall, I noticed little kids throwing tantrums and being rude towards everyone in their immediate environment. Then I got back to my home-office where I was faced with more short-temperedness because I forgot to buy a new supply of coffee for the coffee machine.
Instead, I took everyone to our favourite coffee shop on the corner for a cappuccino. Noble I know, but my reason was much deeper than scoring brownie-points. Familiarity will cheer people up, while people will only embrace newness and novelty when they’re in a positive mood.
2 Million e-mails per second - most of which will be read on the toilet.
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Mon, 2010-02-22 16:51
Unbelievably, I watched as a guy at gym this morning was conducting his #1 toilet business while speaking on his mobile phone. I was astounded at his dexterity, but I was even more flummoxed by the fact that the call couldn’t wait on the call of nature. I would have (as I suspect most other people would have) let the phone ring, picked up the voice mail, and returned the call. OK, maybe this guy is frugal and didn’t want to call back.
But it kind of got me wondering about communication....
