My old boss knew how to motivate me.
Right after every assignment he'd give me, he'd always say, "Don't fuck it up," or "Don't screw this one up," as I walked out the door.
He'd always deliver the line in the most jovial way, too. And it never failed to make me smile and, most importantly, give a shit.
Because I always wanted to hear him say, "Thanks for not fucking this up." Or even, "Nice job."
And you know what? Most of the time, I did.
You have to find out how to work with others, and discover how to make them work. It's key for your success, their success, and overall contentment in the workplace.
I respond well to a) being told directly what to do with b) a smirk and c) cursing.
My boss knew that.
And to this day, no matter who I'm working for at the moment, before I ever type a single word, I always tell myself, "Don't fuck this up."
And I don't.