MOTIVATING SHORT TERM WORKERS


     	For some employees, your unit is clearly a stopover in their
pursuit of a career elsewhere.  But you can still make sure the
limited time they work for you is as productive as possible--for you,
and for them.  Here's how:

	1.  PROVIDE A WRITTEN AND ORAL STATEMENT OF EXPECTATIONS.  People with
classes or interviews on their minds can
easily get distracted.  Help them stay focused on your unit's needs by
offering a clear statement of performance standards, work rules, and
accepted practices and procedures.  The better these employees
know what's expected of them, the better they can organize their
complicated lives to give you their best effort.

	2.  REINFORCE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THEIR WORK.  If workers
don't expect to be around long, it's easy for them to assume that if
they don't get a job done, someone else will do it eventually.  Counter
that assumption by showing short-term workers how much their
contribution matters.  Introduce them to the people who use their
work, or provide fresh figures showing the impact their efforts have
on productivity.

     	Don't neglect feedback--if you act like it's not worth your time
to praise or correct performance, short-term workers can't be faulted
for assuming that their efforts don't really count.

	3.  SHOW INTEREST IN LONG-RANGE PLANS.  Ask how they're
preparing for auditions, or what they're studying at night school.
They'll reciprocate the interest you show in their lives by showing
more interest in your department.
     	When short-term workers are especially good, knowing more
about their top priorities may help you find more appealing work for
them to do.  In many cases, challenging assignments encourage such
workers to stay for longer periods than they'd originally planned--to
the benefit of both themselves and the department.

     	Everyone who passes through your unit, however briefly,
becomes a permanent advertisement for your organization and your
own supervisory skills.  Helping them feel focused and valuable
while they're part of your group can have a lasting effect on your
reputation as an effective supervisor.

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