Motivate your team!

I disagree with the saying that it is all about MONEY. 

Yes, of course, stakeholders are looking forward to maximize business value but as a manager or executive we have to understand that there will never be any value created without human beings...

Having worked in consulting for most of my career, I crossed over many waves of thinking where for example, the resource would be seen like an asset, then like an enabler and finally like a HUMAN BEING and true contributor.

People are the common denominator for success, you could have the best technology out there for you to meet a market requirement and reduce your costs, you could have lean inventory to improve your cash flow, you could have the best warehouse system that enables you to optimize your distribution flow.. but hey... you need people to make the right decisions at the right time. The right people is all what it takes to bring you where you want. And those people are human beings, they have families, desires, passions, ups and downs like you. The human aspect has to be taken into account. It is over the days that employees were considered as "lower" and "less important" than you. They are surely not a number or a punch card. True, it still happens today that employees are not valued accordingly and I truly hope that ALL managers, directors, execs in the next years to come with completely shift that thinking.

Some thoughts:

1) Hire more knowledgeable resources than you: as an executive, your job is to hire the best team on the market. Hire that guys that knows ten times more than you do or that guys that learns like a sponge and set the bar higher for everyone. Think in terms of value added. Do not hire an individual if that individuals does not bring additional value to the team.

2) Remember that diversity is the essence of a team: Make your resources understand that there is no place for a one man show. I believe that the success of the best companies relies on the complementary skill set of individuals. Hire that guys or girl that just came out of school and his brilliant and creative, hire that individual whom travelled all over the world and brings in your company open perspectives, hire that individual that is more rigid and needs a structure to be successful, hire that resource that is ultra focused and result oriented.

3) Your people are the "cream of cream" of your company: Your employees are truly the richness of your company. Be the BEST employer you can be. Encourage high performance and make sure that they understand how important they are to you, your customers and your company.

4) Offer them what they need: Remember that there are different generation needs. 20-30 years old require to be challenged, need significant recognition, they are fast and want responsibility - offer them to travel the world. 30-45 years old need work-life balance, they have often small kids and are sometimes more reluctant to travel, give them nice work-life balance programs like an envelop of X$ a year that they can use for gym, travel, housekeeping... anything they need it for, offer them a management position. 45+ may start a new career, they started their family and are often more seen in a consultant role or executive role, if you want to keep them long term, offer them a retention program with stock units if you are a public company.

5) Really care about them: Be sensitive to their personal and business goals, support them in the achievement of their goals. After all, life is beautiful journey when we learn to work with each other. Celebrate their milestones. Remember that if an individual decides to leave your company to continue his/her own path, you need to support them. Departures from a company should be celebrated as if the resource was coming on board (in most cases).