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The dilemma of ‘Consistent Excellence’
February 01, 2010
I’ve heard a concern numerous times in the past few months: “We only reward people who are involved with big initiatives. Most of our people don’t get to work on those projects and they feel left out.”
Do You Have Invisible Employees on Your Team?
January 14, 2010
Chester and I are excited to announce that we have updated and added tons of new content to The Invisible Employee and released a second edition with John Wiley. It was released officially on December 30, but we’re having some great promotions today and tomorrow for anyone who buys the book. Here are all the details:
Buy the second edition of The Invisible Employee on Jan. 14 or 15, and we’ll immediately send you these valuable tools:
*World’s Greatest Managers Audio Lesson: Chester interviews some of the world’s most successful CEOs and business leaders. It’s like stealing the playbook of the masters!
*A Carrot A Week: Receive a free subscription to 52 practical suggestions on how to provide meaningful recognition—tips you can apply today.
*Global Carrots: Heading on a business trip? Managing employees from other lands? Learn how to say “thank you” in dozens of languages.
Buy one copy and we’ll send you these resources. Buy 5 copies for your team and receive all these resources, a Garrett the Carrot plush Carrot, and a complimentary copy of the Wall Street Journal bestseller A Carrot A Day—365 recognition ideas for every day of the year.
Simply forward your e-receipt, dated today or tomorrow (Jan. 14 or 15), from Amazon or Barnes & Noble to and we’ll send you your stuff at no charge!
For more information on the book, check out this month’s newsletter found here.
Neuroscience research shows a reward helps us learn
January 04, 2010
Our brains learn more from rewards than from failures. Breakthrough research from a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has shown the remarkable power of rewards on the brain. The MIT study was published in the journal Neuron last summer and was summarized in this month’s Harvard Business Review.
Give your employees what they want for the holidays
December 18, 2009
December is a time of giving. And as a manager, there is no substitute for a sincere thank-you to your employees to help them feel valued and appreciated for their great work. And the holidays are the perfect time, since, frankly, employees are expecting some form of recognition.
Laughter is the best medicine
December 07, 2009
When at work you are expected to remain somber and humorless, especially in this economy. Right? And yet research shows humor adds a sense of positivity and optimism in a negative environment. When you laugh or smile, it indicates you are happy and engaged in what you are doing.
New data shows us how to reward younger and older workers
November 19, 2009
At the Thanksgiving table Uncle Eddie dives into the mashed potatoes, Cousin Nikki the rolls and salad, Aunt Ruth would drink gravy if she could, and little Tyler saves room for pumpkin pie.
All of us are driven by a desire to dig in, but each of us chooses to receive it in different ways. New research shows the same is true with recognition. While sincere appreciation drives performance in everyone, there are some differences in the way younger and older employees want to receive it.
Bad Habits
November 15, 2009
In his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, executive coach Marshall Goldsmith lists 20 bad habits we need to break at work. If you can read these without feeling at least a little guilty you are either about to receive sainthood or are in denial.
The list includes:
Lying to Kids
October 29, 2009
Have you ever told your kids, nephews or nieces, or grandkids that honesty is the best policy? An interesting article in The Journal of Moral Education suggests we as adults may not always follow that policy when communicating with our children.
They’re Snapping at Zappos
October 23, 2009
I had a chance last week to visit the headquarters of online retailer Zappos.com, one of the world’s fastest growing companies. Over the last 8 years since inception, Zappos has grown to more than $1 billion in revenue (from a zero start). If you’ve shopped Zappos you know they have a great product strategy—allowing you to shop for shoes and other stuff with free shipping both ways. So, in effect, you can try on a pair of Hush Puppies and never leave home.
Get measurable results with The Carrot Principle
October 16, 2009
The October issue of the Carrot Culture newsletter is focused on how organizations can achieve measurable results through The Carrot Principle. Last month we hosted the 5th annual Carrot Culture Summit in Boston, MA, where business leaders from across the country met to share best practices. This two-day event was packed with stories of wildly successful organizations who get what recognition is all about. Click below to read more of what the Summit was all about.