Page 139 - Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles

110 Carrots and Sticks Don’t Work

the dark, like he didn’t trust or respect us. My current manager
does everything she can to communicate and keep us in the
loop. Her philosophy is to be totally open and transparent.
Everyone really respects her because we feel like she respects
us, and that translates into team members being more produc-
tive and happy at work.”
• “Two of my co-workers and I had a novel idea for a new
product. We pitched it to our boss, and he said, ‘Go for it!’ Even
though our idea did not pan out, our boss really supported us
and never made any of us feel bad about wasting time and
money. In fact, despite the failure, he actually acknowledged us
in front of the whole department for our initiative and creativ-
ity. I am proud to work for a boss who actually believes in and
supports his people.”
• “I started out with this company twenty years ago as an
administrative assistant with a high school diploma. Now I
have a graduate degree and am the assistant plant manager.
This company believes in its people and believes in investing
in them. I think that is why we have so little turnover and are as
successful as we are.”
• “I’ve worked as a customer service agent in a number of
different retail stores. Most of the time they just throw you out
onto the floor and you learn as you go. This company spent
three weeks training me. They had me go around and work
with two of the best team members. It is the first job that I ever
felt really prepared and ready to do well, and also the first time
that I really felt that the company cared.”
• “I am an accountant, and I work for a major corporation.
When I first got the job, everyone assumed that I knew what I