Book of the Month

>>How many times have we said it? Or at least thought it? "You're not the boss of me."

It's true. Motivation is an inside job. In their fast-paced, engaging book, Motivating Employees, Ann Bruce and James Pepitone explain why and how we, as managers, can motivate employees to work because they want to-not because we want them to.

The authors insist, "A manager's goal must be to help create a truly motivating organization, one that inspires each employee to do his or her best every day-particularly when the manager isn't looking." This advice is followed by the obvious, yet often neglected, truth that today's employees are better informed than ever before. People want greater satisfaction from their work-satisfaction that rarely comes from money alone.

Through entertaining case histories of successful companies such as Disney, Southwest Airlines and Ben & Jerry's, we learn how to create an environment in which employees express an entrepreneurial mindset and demonstrate a feeling of ownership-characteristics that lead to satisfied employees and higher profits. We are provided with 10 specific tips for promoting work-team synergy and preparing our organization to embrace the ensuing success.

Although motivation isn't simple, Motivating Employees simplifies the principles. The chapters are short. The information is tactical. The procedures lead to results. The red flags warn of common, yet avoidable obstacles. The examples are real-world. The checklists are mistake-resistant.

What's left is application. All the advice in the world isn't worth a proverbial wooden nickel if it is left on the shelf to gather dust. This is not a book meant to be just read; it's a book meant to be used. And what's the motivator? What's in it for us? That's easy. If employees lack motivation, mediocrity settles into our organization. We become the "also ran." Are you willing to settle for second place?