Seth Godin’s post titled ” What Sort Of Bonuses Should We Pay ” gave me one of those lightbulb moments.
I’m not a big fan of a few dollars. Once, many moons ago, when one of my old masonry mentors was also my employer, he gave me a 50 cents an hour raise. He said to me, ” Don’t tell any of the other employees. ” I said, ” I won’t, I’m as ashamed of it as you are. ” He took it back and I wasn’t even mad about it. Oh, I soon left for a competitor of his that doubled my salary. He called me up and offered half of what they had given me, after I had spent a few thousand dollars moving about 2 hours away. I was even more ashamed of him for doing that.
Seth suggests not giving trifling little bonuses, but giving leeway, empowerment and opportunity and I couldn’t agree more.
I’d love to have the opportunity to do something for my employer that nobody had ever done, or even thought of doing. Give me 6 months to try and see if I can make it work and that will make me 557 times happier than a $50 bonus.
Can you imagine the motivation that this would bring to a salesforce. Here’s a little rope, take it out and see what you can lasso. If you catch something, we’ll split the proceeds. If you don’t, well, at least you tried and we appreciate it.
That, Mr. Employer, will make your employees want to come to work and keep them from running over each other at 5 o’clock, trying to get out the door.
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I like the concept, Mike. I would love for you to follow up with a post giving successful examples of how you’ve seen it work. (btw, I had a former “mentor” employer like yours. When I left he told me that I’d never make as much money as he was paying me. It took me about two years to make twice as much as he was paying me. Sheesh)
When I left, my new employer doubled my salary and when I left them, my next employer doubled that one !
Hasn’t happened again, but I’d take another doubling and be happy.
Then only way I’d be able to double it now is by writing books, consulting on and selling blogs and blogging services.