Author Erika Andersen "Growing Great Employees" Releases Five Tips for Keeping Good Employees Motivated During Economic Downturn

Co-founder of Proteus International, critically-acclaimed business book author releases valuable tips for organizations to keep best employees engaged, motivated and inspired.

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 21, 2008 -- According to statistics outlined in a recent Business Week news story, weekly jobless claims are now "averaging 335,000 through early February." One of the most difficult challenges for managers during lean economic times is to keep their best employees motivated and engaged.

Author Erika Andersen says, "It's especially important, when times are tough, for managers to be both clear and supportive - so that employees know what's expected of them, and they feel confident that their managers want them to succeed."

Andersen offers these tips to companies to help ensure employees stay focused and productive despite the current economic climate:

1. Share your vision: Employees want to know their leaders have a real sense of where the organization is headed and how to get there. This is especially important in times of uncertainty.

2. Listen: There's no better way to find out critical information - and in difficult times, you need all the accurate information you can get.. Equally important, real listening demonstrates genuine respect and openness.

3. Be as generous as you can: In lean times, it's more important than ever to control costs, but there are lots of ways to be generous to your employees. Share information, genuine praise, inclusion, responsibility and your own time and wisdom. Generosity builds loyalty and inspires people to do good work.

4. Support your best people: Now, especially, you want to keep your best employees and keep them motivated. Create an environment where excellence gets rewarded - with promotions, bonuses, plum assignments and developmental opportunities.

5. Involve people in change: No doubt, there will be changes in your organization in the coming year. As much as possible, include people in the process: their resistance to change will go way down - and you'll have the benefit of their knowledge and insight.

Erika Andersen's award-winning book, "Growing Great Employees" - http://www.growinggreatemployees.com , was named one of the best organizational management books of 2007 by PersonalMBA and 800CEORead.com. Newly released in paperback, the book continues to garner accolades and followers for its truly down-to-earth approach to the what, how and why of good people management.

Her blog can be found at http://thesimplestthing.typepad.com/ .

Erika Andersen is the founder of Proteus International - http://www.proteus-international.com, a consulting firm established in 1990 that works with CEOs and top executives of many major corporations, including Molson Coors Miller Brewing, MTV Networks, Union Square Hospitality Group, PepsiCo, ESPN, Comcast, Lifetime Television, Madison Square Garden, and Bank of America. Erika and her family live in Kingston, New York. The firm has offices in New York and Minneapolis.

Andersen has been featured in leading business publications including Forbes, New York Times, National Post and Investor's Business Daily.

Andersen is available for interview, contact Nettie Hartsock - nettie AT nettiehartsock.com , Hartsock Communications.

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