0816_TOEFL-Test-and-Score-Manual-1997

194 ● 201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business
expectations. No one is a mind reader. So write down exactly what you
expect people to do and when you need to have it done.
Everyone communicates differently. Being a writer, I write endless
notes. My husband, Joe, and our kids, Jeanne and Evan, hate them.
“Just tell me what you want me to do,” admonished my daughter,
Jeanne, before she moved out to attend college. “Don’t write it down.” The
problem is that she ignored my verbal requests all through high school.
“You’ll be leaving notes on our graves,” quipped Joe, my husband. He’s
probably right.
No matter what communication style you embrace, stick to it. Then,
move on to master the art of motivation, appreciation, and delegation. It’s
a fact that when people feel truly appreciated, they work harder.
You might be surprised to learn that money is not the best motivator.
In fact, Dr. Bob Nelson, my favorite human resources guru, said
thanking people and providing the tools they need to do their job well
are more effective. We love hearing the sound of our name more than
anything else.
So call a person by their name and say something positive. Sometimes
a simple “thanks, good job” is all you need to say. Try it.
If you want to acknowledge extra effort, give people a day off with pay.
For some great hiring tips, I turned to Chris Gorog, a good friend who
is a respected entertainment industry executive. Gorog has headed several
successful companies, including the House of Blues, Roxio, and Napster.
Before taking a break to consider new opportunities, he orchestrated the
sale of Napster, the revived music sharing company, to Best Buy for more
than $130 million.
“I always like to find someone who really wants the job,” said Gorog,
“Someone who is emotionally connected and will just die if they don’t
get it.”
Knowing everything about the company and the management team,
especially the CEO, is essential for any job applicant, he said. Anyone who
doesn’t do their homework is immediately dismissed by Gorog. He also
looks at how long the applicant has worked at their previous jobs. People
who hop around show a “lack of loyalty and respect,” he said.
He urges employers to carefully check references, but not by calling
the human resources department, which can often just confirm dates