Mary Gober is hot property among companies wishing to revitalise their workforces, but critics say her methods are just a short-term fix. David Hencke saw her in actionThe 5,000-strong audience were waiting for the show to begin. They had filed into the darkened hall in Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre to see a stage set with a podium and triple cinema screens. But they were not going to see the latest pop phenomenon or comedy star. They were waiting for a middle-aged, charismatic New Yorker, to be trained in better customer relations.Mary Gober, a retail motivationist, is the latest big idea for human resource directors seeking “culture change” among their staff. Last week, Marks & Spencer became the biggest British company so far to employ her services. Consultants, unions and experts in workplace management warn, however, that while this kind of motivational technique may work in the short term, the effect is like “giving children sweeties” – a programme of diminishing returns. Continue reading…
Source : theguardian.com
Read more…On the shop floor with Ms Motivator
