Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A few useful tidbits
I like this little book for highlighting out-of-the-box ideas for improving the enthusiasm, and therefore the productivity of employees. Each energizing idea is described succinctly in a short paragraph. The ideas consist of short stories of some strategy or new approach a particular company implemented, and what the rewards and benefits were. About three of these vignettes fit on a page; about 212 pages minus the index, table of contents, and some other overhead, makes for quite a few suggestions. 1001 of them I guess. Some of the ideas are pretty original, such as having the boss call everybody's mother when a tough project is completed on time. Some suggestions are old news, like having a team-building event in which participants must depend upon each other in order to achieve some goal, like scaling a wall. I say "yawn" to that idea, but I liked the one about the mothers. I bet my mom would fall over if my boss ever called her.The book is sprinkled with quotes, bullet lists, principles and ideas that you are welcome to take or leave. I must say, I have heard a lot of this before, but there are one or two useful tidbits. I recommend this book for people who want invigorate their organization. Throw away the clichés and you will find some good solid original ideas in "1001 Ways to energize Employees." Even if you only find one useful idea amongst the 1001, and it helps your company or your employees, "1001 Ways to energize Employees" will be worth your investment. Anyway, it's cheap.
Rating:  - There's a sucker born every minute
Companies are spending so much money trying to inspire employees that they have spawned an industry: the motivation industry. Bob Nelson is cashing in on it for sure. What executive wouldn't buy in to the notion of some pundit who champions "no cost" motivation? I wonder what they pay to hear him say it on his motivational tours?? What inspires people remains vague and elusive. For every reader who is moved by his book, there are likely ten who see it as childish drivel. Nelson is just repackaging old anecdotes and fictional stories, then reselling them. There is not one shred of proof that any of his methods have any lasting value. Don't waste your time or money on this garbage.
Rating:  - Needed now more than ever!
Creative yet practical ways to motivate and retain staff are needed now more than ever before. Between the sour economy that makes raises and bonuses tougher, the specter of layoffs that's making everyone nervous, the ability of top staff to bail on you at a moment's notice, and the trend toward making managers accountable for employee retention, managers can never let down their guard in this area. Many of the ideas here are common sense, but can never be restated enough. Others are low-cost and can be implemented with the leanest of budgets. My one quibble with the book: the suggestion to have executives spend a day with the staff is, IMHO, insulting to the rank and file and may even be counterproductive, as it comes off as more of a feel-good stunt benefitting the executives than a real motivator.
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