I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to find time to communicate with your staff. You see, employees these days are bombarded with news coverage detailing corporate corruption, layoffs, bankruptcies and economic crisis. Therefore their radar systems are on high alert for any tidbit of info indicating that your company may be having major troubles. And this leads to speculation, rumors, decreased morale, decreased productivity and all around trouble!! Consider scheduling regular informational-type meetings. Use this time to fill your employees in on corporate developments, and offer them an opportunity to ask questions. During these communications, it is vital that you be as honest as possible (without giving away any confidential company information, of course). Your staff will pick up on any attempt to be evasive, and this will only make them more nervous than ever. So when you can, just be honest!! Let your staff know that you are willing to keep lines of communication open and that any time they have a question, they should contact you.

Another way to keep communication flowing is to spend more time in your department. Try to walk around and check in with people on a frequent basis. Let them see that you are accessible and that you are committed to keeping them abreast of important information. This kind of attention will do wonders for stress-level (and therefore productivity) of your employees. In trying times, most managers get really uncomfortable. As a result they tend to shut down and spend less time with their employees. Take open-communication approach, and again, you’ll stand out like a shining star. It’s a win for you, a win for our employees and a win for your company!!

And what's alternative for them? They get on bandwagon or they get left behind. When you talk about creating an awesome work environment you can tell them how much you want your department to be best one to work for in company. Refer to your "team" often. Be sincere and let them know that you mean it and that you're not just blowing smoke. This will give them a bit of a team feeling right there. Then, as you start to implement all of components, a bit more of a team spirit will start to emerge. For example using some of their ideas will make them feel part of solution and part of team. It shows them that you do listen and are capable of being "big" enough to use something that you didn't think of.

And try to create some kind of way for them to recognize each other for their good work. For example, you could create some kind of program where they can fill out pre-printed cards to give to each other as recognition for a job well done. The cards would have info such as:

Employee Name:

Description of Accomplishment:

Date:

Submitted by:

Then, as they fill these out and start giving to them to each other, more of a team spirit will start to emerge. Everyone likes to be told "Good Job." Even when it comes from a co-worker. Have all employees submit their received cards to you and then do a drawing once a month for a day off or a nice prize. This is a cool program and people LOVE it.

And certainly give credit where credit is due. Share credit for accomplishments made by your department. In a big way - in a really vocal way. Let there be no question that you directly attribute success of your department to them!!

Component #6 Make it a constant process!

This is a must. Yes, this type of employee motivation plan does take lots of time and energy. And it will continue to. But you must commit that this is a way of life for you as a manager. Once you do implement components and start to utilize them on a consistent basis, they really will become second nature to you. It just takes a while.

As you implement your tools, pay attention to what is working and what needs tweaking. Ask your employees for feedback. Remember, you should be doing a LOT of listening from now on. Ask them if they like employee recognition program in your department. Ask them for ways to make it better and more meaningful. Do they feel that team spirit is building? Why? What things can you be doing to make it better? Many brains are better than one, so make sure to enlist them in process!!

Never lose sight of your goals for having a super-motivated, productive, happy staff - envy of company. Your boss will thank you because of increased productivity and contribution to bottom line. And if that weren't enough, your spouse and kids will thank you because running a department like this does wonders to your stress level and quality of your personal life!!!

Now go out there and be a STAR!!