Build a culture where everyone is part of the team
In a survey of 14 companies respected for their exceptional cultures, every one mentioned the need for teamwork among employees, departments, suppliers, customers and stockholders. When a CEO lays people off to increase his stock’s price, he’s making opponents out of people who should be teammates. When a purchasing manager strong-arms suppliers into slashing parts prices, she improves the short-term bottom line but incurs long-term resentment.
The age of pitting one star performer against another is over, as today collaboration and cooperation rule. In the cutthroat environment of a down economy, who needs internal one-upsmanship?
Interstate Batteries has intentionally developed a system to reward achievement based primarily on team performance. After a particularly stellar corporate performance, the CEO invited everyone to a spontaneous party, gave them the rest of the day off and handed out $50 bills to use as mad money on their mini-vacation.