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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Derek McIver, Public Relations, The Ictus Initiative, (617) 717-8294, derek@ictusinitiative.com
Passion Trumps Pay Hikes—Even in Chaotic Economy
Keith Ayers's new business book says executives can get more from employees by favoring a passion-inspiring company culture over financial rewards
WEST CHESTER, PA (September 29, 2008)-Keith Ayers, president of Integro Leadership Institute LLC, today launches his new book, Engagement is Not Enough: You Need Passionate Employees to Achieve Your Dream, arguing that financial incentives will consistently fail to motivate the modern workforce-regardless of the state of the economy.
In order to achieve long-term success in an increasingly competitive and globalized economy, business leaders need to develop a company culture based on creativity, innovation, and passion, according to Ayers.
Ayers refers to research on employee engagement conducted over the last decade by the Gallup Organization and others that shows a stagnant percentage of employees in America who could be considered "engaged"-about 30 percent. Ayers points to misguided leadership strategies aimed at dealing with this problem as the cause of this stagnation.
"They throw money at the problem", says Ayers, a native of Sydney, Australia, "thinking that better compensation, benefits, incentives, or working conditions will fix it. If a raise has any impact on engagement at all, then it only lasts one or two months, tops."
Ayers bases his alternative strategy on his "passion pyramid", which defines five core emotional needs of all employees: to feel respected, to learn and grow, to be an insider, to know they're making a difference, and to feel part of a winning team. By combining awareness, understanding, methodology, and commitment, CEOs can follow a step-by-step approach to tend to these emotional needs. Once this process starts to flow, Ayers affirms, results will flow too.
"Every senior executive I have been talking to is fretting about this economic situation: the bailouts, questions over obtaining credit, the prospect of conflict with employees over layoffs and salary freezes. The manner in which we, as leaders, react is crucial. Do we take an adversarial approach? Or, do we sit down with our team members, listen to their equally valid concerns over the economy, and map out a way forward for the business together. It's not always about money. By developing trust with your team members, you can achieve results you have only dreamed of, without spending a fortune."
For more information on Engagement is Not Enough, visit www.EngagementIsNotEnough.com.
For further information or to schedule an interview with Keith, please contact Derek McIver, 617-717-8294, Derek@IctusInitiative.com.
About Keith Ayers
Keith Ayers is author of Engagement is Not Enough (Elevate, 2008) and president of Integro Leadership Institute, an international business consultancy group with offices in the United States and Australia, and associates located around the world. He is an expert at working with CEOs and senior executive teams to help them create a "high performance culture"-one that is based on a high level of trust and personal responsibility. Keith has appeared in USA Today, Business Week, and HR Magazine, among others, and has delivered keynote speeches to executive teams and conferences all over the world.
Log on to www.IntegroLeadership.com for more information.
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