Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce

If you believe employees are the lifeblood of your company, you already know that like equipment and business systems, they need maintenance to perform well. So how do you inspire peak performance? Consider these eight simple approaches.

1. Be a model for positive energy. Set the example for punctuality and reliability if you expect those traits in your employees. Show that you take care of your physical health if you need for them to be healthy, too.
2. To motivate employees, share your positive vision, and share it with enthusiasm. Throw out at least one solution to a problem and encourage employees to come up with better ones.
3. Look and listen. Show employees that you are interested in their ideas, needs and concerns by actively listening and asking open- ended questions. Don’t wait until someone comes to you with a problem in the day-to-day work environment, if you’ve already noticed the problem and have the wherewithal either to correct it or empower him or her to correct it.
4. Celebrate success. Build in rewards that are clearly not based on favoritism. Not all rewards cost money (or very much money), yet all of them demonstrate to employees that you consider their contributions and achievements as links to the company’s overall success.
5. Remember, there is more to peak performance than hard work – yours or your employees. Take an objective look at the practices, policies and processes that affect your business’ products and services. Do they help employees to be effective and succeed? If not, actively involve them in making the necessary improvements.
6. Avoid statements like “do it right the first time,” which imply that you assume your employees lack conscientiousness or are incompetent. Platitudes like this can actually be demotivators, even if you think these exhortations imply that you have certain standards to them to uphold.
7. Share news, whether it’s good or bad. Open communication fosters trust, and trust is vital to motivating people to give you their best.
8. Keep your perspective and exhibit fairness. Coaching is a good thing, but nitpicking is not. If you can accept other people’s work or personal styles that clearly do not compromise your business values, you communicate that you value individual performance over personality.

This article is provided by SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business. SCORE volunteers are available to meet with Chamber members to discuss business issues, problems or challenges. For assistance, call SCORE at 513/684- 2812 or go to www.score.org. The Chamber also provides counsel to small businesses.

The Chamber invites members to share their business insights and expertise by providing an article for this newsletter column and/or for the Business Tips section of our web site. For information, call Amanda Ewbank at the Chamber (812/537-0814) or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .