We are all looking for something different from our jobs and our employers. Some of us are motivated by money, career opportunities, and increased responsibility, while others want something entirely different like great benefits, job security, or the opportunity to learn new skills, manage a team, or spearhead important projects. These differences in personal motivation explain the age-old challenge all leaders struggle with every day: Incentive programs that inspire one person typically have no effect on another. Financial incentives have a short term effect and only inspire those interested in monetary rewards. Likewise, an aggressive benefits package only appeals to people motivated by security. Yet companies continue spending millions every year with fragmented approaches in an attempt to create a positive environment and a happy, productive workforce.

It all begins with understanding the basic drivers of human behavior. Human beings are complex, but huge strides have been made in the last decade in the fields of human psychology and organizational development that can help leaders be more effective and companies more efficient with their resources. We have been researching and testing these developments for the past 10 years and have experiences and information to help your organization thrive in times when most companies just want to survive. The quotes below summarize what most of us already know: The higher the commitment to people, the greater the vitality, performance, and overall strength of the company: Top performers in any field all agree on one basic premise, “You become what you think about”, which leads to this question: “If you aren’t directing the thoughts of your team, who is?”  The media? A disgruntled co-worker? A negative or unreasonable customer? Left unchecked, everyone on your team is being influenced differently by their surroundings. They are left to themselves to stay inspired, find the silver lining in every cloud, and come to their own conclusions about the daily events in the industry and the company. With the correct training, however, people are reminded that it’s not our circumstances, rather it's our choices that most determine our outcomes and levels of success. New levels of personal responsibility help people recognize change as an opportunity, not a threat. New skills help people focus on goals and achievements instead of status quo levels of performance.

Explore our "Commitment Curve" above and consider your options. What does your company look like today? What will your company look like in three years based on your current plan? How would you like to see it improve? Whatever your budget, we can help. The only poor choice is to do nothing. Remember, as your commitment to your people increases, so does your corporate vitality and strength.