Respect

Everyone wants to be treated with respect.

As a company owner or manager, your words, body language, even your facial expressions can make a huge difference in how employees perceive your opinion of them. For instance, extending common courtesies such as a "Good morning" or a nod as you pass workers in the hallway says to them that they are not invisible to you.

Other demonstrations of respect could include asking employees for suggestions to improve operations and/or management. It's another way of saying, "I respect and value your opinions."

And never forget that offering constructive criticism, in private, to a worker who may have missed the mark says, "I respect you enough not to embarrass you in front of your co-workers..."

Recognition

Two powerful words are important in employee motivation... "Great Job!"

By recognizing the work of others, you motivate them to keep working. You'll find that regularly giving verbal or written praise for a job well done goes a long way in making employees feel appreciated. If workers feel that they play an important part in the company by the work they provide, they are much more likely to seek ways to improve their performance.

Reward

While cash incentives are a sure way to put a smile on an employee's face, there are other creative ways to motivate employees through "thoughtful" gestures.

For individual rewards, how about gift certificates for DVD rentals, music CD purchases, theme park tickets or "Dinner for 2" at a local eatery?