| In times of a bad economy, when raises aren't as | | | | Technical Support environment) through a service |
| high as employees would like, and job growth | | | | initiative entitled "Whatever It Takes", where our |
| opportunities might be temporarily "frozen", having | | | | goal was to consistently go above and beyond |
| a strong, effective recognition program in place | | | | for the client, as though that were the normal |
| can go a long way toward "tiding over" your | | | | expected behavior. Whenever I walked past |
| most valuable employees. If you don't yet own | | | | someone's desk that happened to be displaying |
| the book 1001 Ways to Reward Employees, get | | | | "Whatever It Takes"-like behavior, I handed them |
| it now (you can get it used on Amazon for | | | | a $5 bill - right then and there. If I got an e-mail |
| around 3 bucks). This book gives several | | | | from a satisfied client bragging on one of my |
| examples (1001, to be exact) of potential rewards | | | | reps, I walked right out and handed them cash. |
| you could implement, and a large portion of those | | | | Even though each reward was a really small cash |
| examples are actually rewards that cost nothing, | | | | amount, the impact was large - people actually |
| or very little. | | | | started tacking their $5 bills to their cubicle walls, |
| In addition to those, I thought I would share some | | | | and comparing among themselves who had the |
| of the rewards that have worked very | | | | biggest stash of cash! |
| effectively for me in the past. Some of these | | | | 8. Free trip - you could actually fund a free trip by |
| might feel obvious; some not so obvious: | | | | talking to a group of your company executives |
| 1. Time off - this could be an entire day, or it | | | | who might be willing to donate airline, car rental, |
| could be given in small time increments (2 hours, 1 | | | | and hotel miles to create a free trip for someone |
| hour). Make up a bunch of paper "slips" that | | | | (and their guest of choice). Some people travel so |
| designate the time increment to be gifted, and | | | | much that they will never miss some of their |
| use those to present the time off, so that the | | | | miles and would be pleased to have their name |
| employee receives something tangible from you. | | | | associated with such a cool gift. |
| If you work in an environment where each of | | | | 9. Bartered prizes - are there any businesses you |
| your employees' schedules are time-dependent on | | | | could work with to "barter" your services back |
| each other (like, groups who work in shifts), then | | | | and forth? For example, if you are a furniture |
| just make it known that you must approve in | | | | store, could you barter with a local radio station |
| advance when the employee wants to use his | | | | to get free concert tickets in exchange for some |
| time off slip, so you can plan for their absence. | | | | amount of furniture? Another example: if you are |
| 2. Public recognition - call a quick team meeting | | | | a law firm, could you barter several hours of a |
| randomly NOT at your usual team meeting time, | | | | top attorney's time in exchange for some |
| but say Wednesday at 2:45 in the afternoon. | | | | product? Taking this a step further, there are |
| Publicly recognize one of your employees for a | | | | actual barter companies that exist that can |
| job well-done, and say a few words about what | | | | facilitate some of this for you? An example of a |
| they did, and the impact to the company. It can | | | | barter company would be Itex. |
| be a 5-10 minute meeting, but do it "spur of the | | | | 10. Trip to a client - do you have someone on |
| moment", so no one expects it. It can be a really | | | | your team that works " behind the scenes" and |
| small thing they did, or some activity that is | | | | rarely gets into the customer environment? |
| specific to a particular initiative you are trying to | | | | Arrange to have that person do a "ride-along" on |
| implement and emphasize. Also, keep a digital | | | | one of your salespeople's appointments - not only |
| camera at your office, and have someone take a | | | | will they learn a lot, but it'll a treat for them to |
| picture of you and the team member who | | | | get out of the office for the day when their |
| received the recognition - you can then start a | | | | regular job is answering phones, or working in a |
| monthly "Recognition Bulletin Board", where you | | | | factory. |
| place their picture for the month. | | | | The thing is, you as the manager know more |
| 3. Hand-written note - especially in this day and | | | | about your group of employees than any book or |
| age, even seeing someone's handwriting these | | | | article. Spend some time thinking about what |
| days is a little bit of a shock! Get some | | | | types of things really motivate your group. It |
| personalized stationery of your own, and make it | | | | goes without saying that money is a motivator. |
| a practice to hand out 1 to 2 handwritten notes | | | | But, do you have an employee that tacked up |
| per week. It can be something as simple as "Josh, | | | | your hand-written note to their cubicle wall, in a |
| thanks for staying late last night to finish taking | | | | prominent place? Personal recognition means a lot |
| care of that client. You are terrific!" | | | | to this employee. Take care to ensure that what |
| 4. Food - ok, this is probably one of those really | | | | you perceive to be a "reward" isn't embarrassing, |
| obvious ones! Whether it's doughnuts, pizza, lunch | | | | or unimportant to the people for whom it's |
| brought in, unexpected food is ALWAYS | | | | intended. For example, I once managed a group |
| well-received. Also, grab a bunch of candy bars | | | | made up entirely of men who HATED doing |
| one day, and randomly pass them out during | | | | "secret pals", and gift cards only moderately |
| times of high stress. | | | | excited them. What they loved? Getting time off. |
| 5. Gas card - even if the dollar value isn't very | | | | This was a HUGE motivator for them, even if |
| high, employees will love receiving gas cards as | | | | they got a gift of "2 hours' time off", and I really |
| gifts, because it's recognition by the company of | | | | only learned this valuable fact through trial and |
| the hardship they face with rising gas costs. | | | | error. It's really important to focus your gifts on |
| 6. Gift cards - everyone enjoys receiving a gift | | | | items that will motivate the particular group you |
| card, regardless of how big it is. Maybe a $5 | | | | are working with, and also for each individual |
| Starbuck's gift card for an employee who | | | | within your group. |
| resolved that 5-hour client issue. Or perhaps a $10 | | | | And finally - even if you are not a manager with |
| Amazon gift card for that tech guy that came in | | | | the power to put some of these things into place, |
| and worked on your "broken" computer, only to | | | | make it a point to at least share these ideas (and |
| find out it was something you did wrong! | | | | any others you are inspired with) in hopes that |
| 7. Cash - handing out cash periodically has a | | | | they will be implemented. Or, choose one of the |
| POWERFUL impact, and it doesn't have to cost as | | | | ideas that is especially meaningful to you, and go |
| much as you might think. I once led a group (in a | | | | request it for yourself! |