“People will become more productive…”

Bart Mroz at Indy Hall pointed me at this post by Mike Neiss on TomPeters.com titled Ambition and Productivity.

The Associated Press recently reported that "Worker productivity... slowed sharply in the final three months of the year while wage pressures increased." Bad news for business, right...?

Yes, but there's a solution. Give your employees a reason to care. The key here is discretionary effort—effort beyond the 'motions' we go through to simply fulfill out job duties. If employees care they give more and give better.

Unfortunately, the real bad news in this story is what's left unsaid. So I'll go ahead a say it...

Most companies are so devoid of soul, having worshipped at the altar of 'maximizing shareholder value' so long, that talking about a "reason to care" is as likely to elicit a response as is talking about "Mary Poppins". Stronger measures are necessary. Like a corporate near death experience. (Now there's an opportunity for an enterprising consulting company—carefully orchestrated near death experiences for businesses. Anyone game?)

"People will become more productive when they want to become more productive!"

Thanks Bart!

- Bandit