Recover from motivational bankruptcy: six tips for motivating your staff and professional doers.(SELECTED TOPIC)

The president of an office supply company was recently lamenting that his sales people were not operating to their potential. "Motivationally bankrupt," he said.

This is a very common complaint in any area of business. Many times it's the managers who are unconsciously demotivating their employees.

People want to succeed in their jobs. When they sign on they're psyched to do well in the company. Even if they are experienced, they are new to you and new to your company. If you haven't made a conscious effort to show them the way you do business, they will do it their way and probably be less effective than either of you hoped. What happens next is they become unhappy--strike one. You're disappointed, which shows--strike two. Then, you probably tell them what they're doing wrong--strike three.

Here are six tips to keep your staff motivated and producing.

1. Set The Expectations.

Tell your people what you want and your method to get it. Nobody knows what you think they should know. Believe this or live in frustration. Never assume they know because of experience, intelligence or whatever. Make your desires perfectly clear. Also, get over any concern that it would be insulting to them, or unnecessary.

You will have to take the initiative because your employees are probably not going to ask for your expectation or how you want them to work. They foolishly think this would make them look badly to you. Therefore, pull each aside quarterly and spell it out.