Experts say that money is seldom the top employee motivator. Though we all need money to survive, most workers are looking for a sense of accomplishment. They want to be appreciated. There are many ways, aside from monetary compensation, to achieve that end. Here are some suggestions for the busy manager: • Write “thank you” notes at the day’s end — Take a few minutes before you go home to jot personal notes to individuals who made a difference. Have personalized “thank you” cards made up and keep a stack of them on your desk as a reminder. • Wander around; be observant — Take different paths to your office to get a chance to mingle with your employees. Learn employees' names. Take breaks with groups of workers and schedule one-on-one meetings. • Sit tight and be accessible — If you have an “open-door policy,” make sure you are actually around for employees to use it. Be accessible when employees need you to be, not just when it’s convenient for you. • Think of your employees as “things-to-do” — List the names of each person who reports to you on your weekly “to do” list and cross each person off when you’ve praised him or her for a job well done. • Harness the power of technology — Leave voice-mail or e-mail messages for hard-working employees. This can even be done from your car phone as you commute home. • Elicit the help of others — Create a recognition task force to develop simple, low-cost rewards. Source: Motivating Today’s Employees by Bob Nelson. For more information, visit www.nelson-motivation.com or call (800) 535-2773.