To retain top performers and maximize their value to the organization, managers must tap the creativity, energy and hopes of their people. Discovering your employees' needs and engaging in a conversation about how those needs will be met is a powerful way to turn the manager-employee relationship into a high-performance engine.

I was recently interviewed by Investors Business Daily. Morey Stettner wrote a tremendously useful article, which you can read in its entirety here. Interaction Associates has been teaching this material for nearly 40 years, so there are no revolutionary concepts here. But it never hurts to offer a refresher.

You're fired! . . . Ever notice The Apprentice isn't really about teams?

Evidence is mounting that high employee engagement leads to better business results.