Every person has a desire to become better. Obviously, some are more in tune with that desire than others. But each person has it, and it can be a great motivating factor. Tap into it by making personal growth a core value of your organization.

Here are some simple ideas:

• Offer a library stocked with books and tapes that help employees with their personal lives. Pick resources that dispense time-management and child-rearing advice.
• Provide financial planning resources. Make available books and magazines that help employees plan for retirement or for financing their children’s college tuition.
• Give days off to pursue personal development opportunities. Or allow workers to attend seminars and conferences that polish professional skills.