STAFF COMPETITIONS: MR MOTIVATOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THEM? Because of length, I will divide this in 3 parts: please comment on part 3!

I’ll take this opportunity to write about something I am really passionate about: Staff Competitions! This is an area in which I am seriously experienced at. I have done all sorts and even created a Sale's Performance Monitoring tool on excel for my teams. I implemented competitions in practically every restaurant, area, company I have ever run. I love that stuff. But let’s start with a simple question: why would you want to do competitions? Aren’t we all…uh…one team one love? Yes we are and no we are not, you’re running a business, not a charity and your end goal is for your operation to be successful. You’re running a profit making enterprise…and how do you enhance sales and/or promote your chosen dish in a zero cost manner? Through staff competition! There is a trick though and the trick is what do they actually win? Winning a staff dinner, a bottle of wine, a CD voucher.that's frankly boring and practically useless. My trick is different and I don't mind sharing it: they would win the chance to make their own schedule for1 week. Now that's serious win! They'd compete to win the chance to choose the best sections and the best shifts and that in turn would achieve2 things: They actually can make lots of tips (now that's a prize!) and It would have a zero cost to me. Result! I know so many other tricks at this that I am slightly embarrassed actually, I used to be very competitive as a waiter and as a manager and through this stuff (as a manager) my amazing teams, in4 different restaurants, managed to win4 consecutive Xmas competitions (as well as serious lot of other stuff).