Thought Leadership

  • A woman and a man in business attire look at a laptop screen, with the text Dont ask what people want. Design something worth working toward. overlaid on the image.

    Article

    The problem with money

    The research is clear. If you inspire people, they are more likely to rise to the challenge. Cash compensates. Inspiration motivates. If you want people to stretch, don’t just ask what they want. Design a reward they can anticipate, experience, remember, and retell.

  • A yellow lightbulb sketch next to the words: Companies that fuel idea volume outperform those waiting for the perfect idea, on an orange background.

    Article

    How volume fuels innovation

    Linus Pauling, the only person to win two unshared Nobel Prizes, was once asked how he generated so many breakthrough ideas. His answer was disarmingly simple: “The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.”

  • Two people use chopsticks to eat from plates of food, with a quote in bold text: Food can be deeply personal because its meaning doesnt come from the food alone..

    Article

    Why food is a memorable reward

    The best food experiences don’t end when the meal is over. They stay with people in the stories they tell, the traditions they keep, and the moments they remember.

  • Two people work at computers. Overlaid text reads: AI can identify the opportunity. A personalized goal turns that insight into something an employee can act on..

    Article

    Why AI doesn’t guarantee better performance

    AI gives organizations more intelligence than they have ever had before. What people do with it is what determines the result.

  • A teal wooden figure stands out from a row of tan figures. Text reads: Top performers stand out in how they show up when it matters.

    Article

    A smarter way to hire top talent

    The stronger the alignment between capability and role requirements, the stronger the odds of performance. And when organizations understand why people succeed, they are better equipped to hire, develop, and retain the people who will move the business forward.

  • Text reads: Sales teams need more than appreciation to drive measurable results. Black arrows on white hexagons point right; one red hexagon points up, emphasizing growth. Blue background.

    Article

    Why sales teams need a different approach to rewards and recognition

    Rewards and recognition for sales teams need to do something different than a traditional all-employee recognition program.

  • Three colorful game pieces on a board with a target and numbered paths. Text reads: Competition helps turn sales kick off energy into measurable execution.

    Article

    Peer-based and team-based competition belongs in your sales kick off

    Sales kickoffs are great at creating energy. The real question is whether that energy turns into changed behavior once sellers leave the room.

  • A person points at an illuminated sales progress bar showing 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% with the word GOAL. Text reads: Give the middle 60% of your sales performers a reason to stretch.

    Article

    Why sales contests fail

    Sales leaders have more ways than ever to motivate performance: compensation plans, SPIFFs, accelerators, recognition programs, contests, and more. Yet many organizations still struggle with a familiar problem: performance plateaus.