When money is on the table, people stay in the room: Taking a page from the military’s pay hike

The CFO was clear. We were in a boardroom with white walls and stale coffee, flip charts leaning in the corner, waiting for inspiration that would never come. He wanted ideas to boost morale. Pizza parties? Sure. Off-site team building? Great. But one rule: “Money’s off the table,” he said. “Everybo...