Even well-thought-out incentives lose effectiveness over time, and traditional practices of rewards programs often feel mechanical, manipulative and bureaucratic, according to George Langelett in his book How Do I Keep My Employees Motivated?: The Practice of Empathy-Based Management. Employees are influenced by emotions as well as logic in their decision-making, so managers need to develop their empathy skills to help employees make sound decisions and to influence long-term motivation.
My full review of the book is available at my business book reviews website.