Nelson,
Hi! The career school and college industry has changes enormously. It has taken a turn toward a more servant oriented environment. If the admissions teams will do what is best for the students they will reap their rewards in a variety of ways.
Cindy Bryant
Managers can motivate employees given the additional federal restrictions with elimination of the "safe harbors" by returning to the purposes of education and the job of the representatives and the impact of their work on students. Instead of focusing on financial gain of representatives focus on the career help they are giving students. Representatives can be recognized and applauded for their efforts at meetings and other gatherings for their efforts in helping students.
Janice,
Allowing your employees the opportunity to recharge and re-energize is very important, not only to their well being but to keep the level of productivity up. Balance is the key!
Cindy Bryant
I think flex time is very important. You should not feel guilty when you use time off that you have earned. I find I am more positive after a break from work; I feel refreshed which, in turn, is reflected in my presentation to prospective students. It is sometimes draining working with the public! You need to take time to take care of yourself.
Constant praise and sending congratulations to the representatives who show 110% via during ou weekly meetings or via email. We also have our meetings during lunch time where we buy lunch for the reps and discuss new topics. During which we discuss how we have changed peoples lives for the better.
My former employer would give Certificates that would say congradulations for enrolling so and so perspective students during the week of whatever week it was. This was always nice as it built my portfolio and made me feel good about how many people I was helping. Also we use to have plaques that would say for example admissions representative of the year or quarter for those who had the best results.
Patricia,
I think that these are very creative ideas.
1)Providing professional development activities for those that have done a good job could be a nice incentive to perform. Another point to be made is that the one's that need training are usually the ones that haven't done such a good job.
2)Time away from the office could be coordinated with going over a performance review.
3)Pet Project is a wonderful motivator.
THanks for putting so much thought and detail into your response.
Cindy Bryant
Yes...I forgot flex hours...that is really important to me personally and I try to provide that for those who report to me. Thanks for reminding me.
I loved the comment on food and agree! I can also think of two other really good motivators for those who value their professional life...one is attending professional development activities, which is a great use of organizational time and money...the gift that keeps on giving. Also, strangely enough, time away from the office/campus, which could also be profession driven. Meeting with colleagues somewhere else, visiting other locations to observe and report back, or time to do a pet project that requires research or meetings away from campus, to name three.
Barbara,
Hi! It is important to remember that anything that can be exchanged for cash or goods is considered to be monetary. Therefore, gift certificates and time off would not be acceptable.
Cindy Bryant
Managers can offer awards or incentives like gift certificates, time off, dress down day something that is not considered monetary.
Michael,
According to a recent case study many employees are motivated by the opportunity to Learn, Develop and Advance as an Employee. Also, Flexible Hours, Recognition, Opportunity to Contribute and Independence and Autonomy. It sounds as if your motivator falls in the category of the opportunity to contribute.
Cindy Bryant
By constantly reminding us of how important our jobs are and how rewarding it can be. By helping someone enroll in college we sometimes forget how much we impact and change their life forever.
Positive feedback...and food always motivates!
Positive feedback and recognition are the ways that our organization motivates employees.
At the institution in which i work, we have weekly meetings where individuals from different areas in the company get recognized for a job well done by simply being mentioned as a "week's best" employee. Each department comes up with one or two, and that way there is recognition, and appreciation.
Bree,
Thank you for sharing these great creative ways to motivate employees.
Cindy Bryant
Sean,
It is wonderful that your company realizes the importance of recognition. The other important point her is that the recognition is consistent. Thank you for sharing.
Cindy Bryant
I think it takes a lot of creativity to be able to show employees that they are appreciated and are doing a good job without monetary compensation. The institution i work for tries very hard to let employees knows that they are not taken for granted. The friday before scheduling ends we all have an ice cream social. On fridays we sometimes have a popcorn machine to enjoy. We also play fun in house games against each other including putt putt golf and a game of darts. We have a lot of fun and it keeps the attitude positive. It has been proven that happy employees do better work and are more productive. We definitely live up to one of our core values, "Laugh. Play. work hard because you love it."
Our company points out on a weekly basis the employees who have succeeded in different areas for recognition. The reward is typically a simple round of applause. It is always nice for your hard work to be noticed by your coworkers.
