Membership Overview
Learn what being a member does for you
The Seller Styles
NASP Programs
Catalog
See a summary of all our programs and certifications
Online Certifications
Certified Professional Sales Person(CPSP®)
Develop your potential as a certified sales professional
Certified Professional Sales Leader(CPSL®)
Grow your impact as a certified sales leader
Certified Master Sales Professional (CMSP®)
Join the elite group of sales professionals and leaders
Certified Master Sales Trainer (CMST®)
Online Programs
Advanced Sales Influence (ASI)
Take your influence and leadership to the next level.
Certified Professional Sales Associate (CPSA®)
Learn foundational sales behaviors, strategies, and skills
Power of Contact Marketing
Learn from marketing expert and author Stu Heinecke
ProSeries Programs
Join the top 1% of sales professionals in the world.
Next Level Virtual Coaching
Sales Mastery
Join our ongoing dynamic virtual coaching community
Career Center
Explore job postings from some of the best companies in the country looking for sales professionals
Training Resources
Daily Dose of Influence!
Enjoy our video series of influence tips and strategies
Leads To Growth
Dig into our podcast featuring industry leaders and experts
Coaches Corner
Learn from our high-level sales coaching video series
Women of Sales & Influence – Facebook Live Series
Be inspired by our Facebook Live series spotlighting top women influencers
Women of Sales & Influence – Video Blog
Enjoy valuable, high-level sales strategies to empower your sales goals
Sales Resources
The Growth Quotient
You’ve heard about IQ, but what is your GQ?
Our Commitment to You
We are here to help your approach to sales, how you interact with others, and how you perform and execute
Articles
NASP Sales Blog
Learn from our member-submitted articles for sales professionals
About Our CEO
Standards of Conduct
Testimonials
Common Questions and Answers
Contact
by Amy Blackburn
If you ask Jason Sweigart how he keeps his staff motivated, he’ll tell you it starts with good manners.
“Workplace culture has to be positive,” he says. To do that, Sweigart has found that verbal and written acknowledgements are often worth more than monetary incentives. Sweigart runs at small marketing firm in Leesburg, Virginia, not far from Washington, D.C. It’s a small operation and his five employees are mostly tech-savvy, recent college grads working their first job.
Giving a monetary incentive can be a great way to motivate employees. However, most small business owners can’t afford that. Sweigart insists that a cash bonus is a once and done thing, while a verbal or written “job well done” goes a long way.
“Monetary incentives don’t mean much if your people don’t feel appreciated.”
When it comes to verbal and written acknowledgements, remember:
1) Attitude starts with leadership. If the company owner or manager does not have positive demeanor, most likely no one else will either.
2) Express appreciation willingly and often. Let staff know when they are doing a good job. If they are not, fake it till they make it!
3) Write a note to a staff member to thank them for their work, or to encourage them in their work. Commending an employee in front of other staff builds a positive environment and helps increase productivity.
4) Identify an employee’s talent and then assign tasks to which he or she likely will excel. Prepare to be impressed!
5) When giving criticism, sweeten it first with a compliment. “I appreciate that you did the work quickly, but I noticed a few spelling errors. Can you give it another look? Thanks.”
6) Finally, always use manners and mean what you say.
When staff feels appreciated, it helps to build a sense of ownership in the company and its future, notes Sweigart. A positive workplace environment can be the difference between a staff that enjoys their work and one with employees looking for their next job.
About the author