Why People Work: When You Know Your Employees "Why" Game They Will Bring Their "A-game"

Why do people work? This appears to be a very simple and obvious question. And when we ask this question to people, we usually get a simple and seemingly obvious answer – “DUH! They want to get a paycheck.” The wise and insightful leader will go beyond this obvious response and come to grips with the fact that there are more complex and hidden human needs within the human spirit.

There are most likely thousands of leadership books written to equip leaders to develop the skills and behaviors necessary to encourage their teams to achieve goals and purposes. However, the primary focus of this book is to assist leaders in looking deeper into the expectations and motivations of the people they serve. So as the organization is achieving its strategic plans and objectives, it is also meeting the critical needs and ambitions of its most important essential resources, better known as its human resources.

In businesses and organizations today, everything begins and ends with leadership. The leaders, who go beyond the obvious to uncover these critical hidden expectations of their employees, are able to create a culture of engagement and retention where employees not only give you their hands but, most importantly, their hearts. The return on investment for this effort is that the leader will earn their employees’ best effort. Therefore, when you know your employees “why” game, they will bring their “A-game.”

As the Vice President of Customer Transformation for Dale Carnegie & Associates, Ercell oversees the entire customer experience by creating quality products that facilitate personal and professional breakthroughs for clients and developing a rigorous trainer certification system rooted in our unique delivery methodology. He ensures that both product quality and training will drive profitability for our franchise network while serving our client’s human capital training needs. Ercell is regarded as a rapport builder: someone who can break down barriers and build bridges with messages and insights that transcend cultural and organizational differences. As a Carnegie Master, he is dedicated to coaching, evaluating, and directing the skills and abilities of future Dale Carnegie trainers on a global scale. He currently lives in Atlanta, He is married to his wife Kynley Hayward Charles and they have three children Cydnei, Blair, Nola, and one granddaughter, Madison.

Dr. Merle Heckman is presently the Chief Culture Officer, Master Trainer and Consultant for Dale Carnegie of the Heartland. His work experience is quite diverse. He grew up on a grain farm in Missouri. His work experience is in the areas of agriculture, a non-profit organization, a privately held transportation business, a government agency, and a large publicly held global manufacturing company. This wide variety allows him to relate to employees in many different levels. With a MA in counseling, a MBA with concentrations in Human Resources, Finance, and Marketing, a MPA and a Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, he taught for various universities over the last 19 years both in house and online. Heckman has the SPHR-SCP certification (Senior Professional in Human Resources) from the Society of Human Resource Management. He was awarded the certification of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) through the National Speakers Association.