Grow Your Business

Maya Fernandez, manager of a small public relations firm in Quezon City, laments the scarcity of staff willing to go beyond the call of duty. Her new researcher, she says, dutifully compiles published press releases, "But I miss my previous researcher who went out of her way to attach statistics, contacts and notes to her compilation without being told."

The bad times may have something to do with worker apathy. Leticia Dominguez, an accountant with an importing firm in Ortigas Center, says absenteeism in the office has grown worse because no one has received a pay raise in the past couple of years. Many workers are spending far more time looking for a better job than doing what they're paid to do, hence many entrepreneurs are finding out they must balance day-to-day management with inspiring workers to get them to perform better.

So how do you inspire your workers to do their best? Do the following:

• Care, don't scare. Using intimidation can backfire, warns volunteer paramedic Jackie Tang, co-owner of Station 54 Caf‚, an eatery in Quezon City operated by members of the Fire Emergency Paramedic Assistance Group. Your employees may follow, but not without resentment. Treating your people as valuable members of your group is more likely to gain their cooperation.

• Give constructive praise. Don't be too hard on someone when he's down. Scathing words can scotch any desire to improve. When you must criticize, find a positive approach, such as: "You don't seem to be working at your normal level. Perhaps we can find ways to improve the situation." And remember: Praise in public, reprimand in private.

• Set clear performance targets. Don't assume your people know exactly what's expected of them. If you're not clear about what you want done and how you want it done, they won't be inspired to perform well, says Bruce L. Katcher in his article, Seven Ways to Motivate Employees. Katcher is president of Discovery Group, a management consultancy firm based in Massachusetts.

• Set the right atmosphere. Nurture a workplace culture that underscores excellence, fairness, open communication, respect, and creative problem solving. Share your plans and vision, solicit ideas, and open your books. When people feel they are part of something bigger with important contributions to make, they will grow passionate about what they do.

• Make the task challenging. People need to feel they are growing, learning, and stretching themselves on the job, so give them a say in how they must do their work.

• Be a role model. It's said that your workers pay 90 percent more attention to your actions than to your words, so don't expect them to come to the office on time if you yourself have a patchy attendance record. Exporter Olga Lim started reporting for work before 10 a.m. after realizing everyone was following her lead of arriving around lunchtime.

• Have fun. Finding ways to bring enjoyment into the workplace will help you cut stress, raise productivity, and make your office a more pleasant place.