NFIB: 8 Surefire Ways to Demotivate Your Employees

NFIB: 8 Surefire Ways to Demotivate Your Employees

Most of these apply to parenting, too: "Public criticism, failing to provide praise, not following up, give unachievable goals or deadlines, not explaining your actions or sharing company data, implied threats, not honoring creative thinking and problem solving, micromanagement."

MORE: ragan.com: Top 10 ways to ensure your best people will quit. Some overlap with the NFIB story, but emphasizes the importance of an employee retention strategy, with periodic retention interviews with key employees. Don't do this: "Wait until a great employee is walking out the door instead and conduct an exit interview to see what you could have done differently so they would not have gone out looking for another job."

NOTE: I've never worked for a company that does these things.