Motivating staff: proactive and reactive techniques

The deepening personnel shortage makes it crucial to keep valuable employees happy as they work in high gear. Despite what management and psychology books may say, managers cannot directly change employees’ attitudes and motivational goals. They can promote motivation indirectly, however, by improving working conditions, adjusting and reassigning tasks as needed, and becoming more effective leaders.
Not everyone with energy directs it toward his or her job. In this article the word “motivation” will refer to cognitive drive that benefits the employer. Employees who are active in professional organizations or other outside activities yet only marginally productive at work, for example, would not be considered highly motivated in a management context.