Employee Incentive Plans: Make Them Worthwhile
By Bill Schoeffler 18, 2005
A few years back, while leading a seminar, we asked the audience to see if anyone had an employee incentive plan. One person raised his hand and proudly said: "I do. If they work hard they get to keep their jobs, that's their incentive." Although this was said with a bit of humor, behind the comment is a basic truth. Employees are hired and expected to perform at least "average." So why motivate them at all?
Unfortunately, it is not that easy. Most people need and want some external motivation. Humans have ups and downs, times when they focus and times when they lose focus. The role of a good manager is to guide employees to work on what is most important in the most efficient manner. Providing employees incentives is one tool that management can use.
