Recognizing employees for their work boosts their performance more than any other measure. Communication is critical. Let your employees know how the company is doing, how their department is doing and how they are doing. One business owner decided it was in the company's best interest for employees to know such information as how much it costs when a person is absent and someone else has to be brought in to fill the vacancy, and the cost per minute when a machine breaks down. Solicit their opinions and encourage them to help shape ideas.
People support their own ideas.
Don't breathe down your employees' necks. Don't over supervise. Your employees know what needs to be done, so let them do it. Each employee is an individual, and each responds in his or her own way to the same work situation or incentives. Some people are so ambitious to get ahead that they do their best even at jobs they dislike.