How much do you tip?

I evaluate servers from the second they approach the table. Are they polite? Personable? Do they have a good memory? Good timing? Do they smile? Do they really "take care of me" like they always say they'll do in the beginning? And I factor all this into their tip.

I am in control. It's one situation where I know I'm getting what I pay for (because if I get crappy service, yup, you guessed it, I don't have to pay for it). It's the same concept with your meal, really. If they screw up your order, what does the manager normally offer? FREE meal.

This system works. It's a constant evaluation of service. The server is evaluated 20-30 times each day they work, and they're receiving that feedback in the form of a tip.

As a manager, I'm constantly evaluating my team. Not on a monthly basis, once a quarter or even worse, once a year. If I have feedback, I give it to them. I don't wait.

Enter an interesting concept: what if, during the daily evaluation of all employees, you adjusted their salary based on that feedback? Would they work harder?

Managers, think about it: If you were to do this, how many people would you have who would leave because they couldn't pay the bills? How many of those people do you want on your team anyway?