NOVEMBER 29

“Recognition is more powerful than any motivator. Research shows that, more often than not, cash bonuses get spent on bills and perks are soon forgotten, but recognition becomes a memory that is relived time and time again, continually building higher performance.”

—Michael P.Connors, Chairman and CEO, VNU Media, Measurement & Information

RELIVE IT AGAIN

Michael should know. We’re sure he still has flashbacks to the day he shaved his head in front of a crowd of hundreds—and made page 1 of the Wall Street Journal.

Believe it or not, the haircut was part of a recognition moment for Bill Polver, president and CEO of VNU’s Internet subsidiary, Net Ratings. A little more than a year earlier, Mike had asked him to relocate his family of six to Tokyo to turn around the firm’s Japan operations, which had been losing money for seven consecutive years.

Mike knew it was a lot to ask, so he raised the stakes. He said, “Bill, if you

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