Ideas That Inspire
Companies spend a lot of time and money recruiting top-notch people to work for their organizations. Recruiting the best and the brightest is only the first step in developing a productive staff. To get the most from your telemarketing or customer service departments, consultants suggest inspiring them with incentive plans and motivational techniques. This task requires planning and creativity. The obvious way to motivate people is through monetary rewards based on achievement. Such a program requires a detailed plan listing specific objectives for your staff. Bonuses can be based on sales volume, lead generation, or customer satisfaction. Make sure the goals you set are reasonable and achievable, or your incentive effort may backfire.
Although money can encourage peak performance, incentives don't always have to come in the form of dollar bills. If your budget is tight, you may want to create an incentive plan that involves less expensive giveaways such as gift certificates for a free ice cream cone or a matinee movie. You can add excitement to these small prizes by coming up with creative ways to give them away. For instance, you might place the certificates in boxes of different sizes and shapes. Gift wrap the boxes with bright, colorful paper and let the recipients choose the package that appeals to them. You could have an incentive tree and hang descriptions of your different prizes on the tree so everyone can see what premiums are available. If you have a bigger budget, you can lengthen the duration of your contest and have a bigger prize for the winners. For instance, a building materials retailer conducts a nationwide contest for its paint departments. The sales competition spans a four-month period. The highest performers receive two passes for a five-day cruise to the Bahamas. Because the contest is held annually, the excitement grows from one year to the next. Creative games and contests will build morale and encourage peak performance from your staff. Use company bulletin boards and newsletters to publicize them. Recognize your employees and praise them for their efforts. The key is creativity. Keep your work environment interesting and fun. You might be pleasantly surprised at the success it brings.
Good Selling!SM
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