This has proven popular.  The following submission has been selected for this month.  To send in your questions for Ask Me, hit reply or email me directly: sarah@sarah-levitt.com

From Jennifer, Director of Finance in Telecommunications:

My question right now is how do you motivate an employee that can do more to start contributing more than the bare minimum?

• First, check for fit between role and employee, for skill set and interest, both
• Have clear expectations for performance that are communicated well
• Convey that the team member has your support and ask what they need from you to further succeed
• Connect their work to its impact for the team and the overarching mission of the organization
• Be specific, think impact
• Ensure that the team is functioning well; the effect and influence of lateral leadership is real
• Ask what they’re curious about in their role and the organization and where they’d like to stretch and grow
• Provide real career pathing conversations related to the last bullet