Tailoring Recognition and Rewards to Employee Interests

There is no “standard employee,” so why would you have standard forms of recognition or reward? Discover different ways to motivate individuals on your team.

Appealing to the Individual – The Difference Between Recognition and Rewards

You know that each employee is unique. You would never assume that they all watch the same television shows or enjoy the same sports. Interests vary from person to person.

The same can be said about motivation tactics in the workplace. Not all employees will enjoy being recognized and rewarded in the same way. Some individuals will prefer rewards, while others crave recognition.

The main difference between recognition and reward is that recognition is a priceless experience. It doesn’t normally have a financial value associated with it. Rewards, on the other hand, are tangible and have monetary value.

By getting to know your employees, you can provide recognition or rewards that matter to them. As a result, they will be more motivated to help your organization succeed.

Different Ways to Recognize and Reward Employees

Three ways to recognize employees:

1. Peer Recognition – Give employees the opportunity to recognize each other. Recognition can make employees feel well respected within their peer group.
   
   
2. Public Recognition – Publicly thank employees and offer them the chance to share their success stories in team meetings. Recognizing an employee openly is a great way to boost confidence for some individuals.
   
   
3. Private Recognition – Set up a one-on-one meeting with employees to give praise and recognition. Private recognition is a great strategy for introverts who may feel embarrassed by public recognition.

Three ways to reward employees:

1. Bonus Time Off – Offer extra vacation days, shorter work days, or a longer lunch to say, “Job well done.” More time off is a great incentive for employees who may wish they had more time at home. For example, individuals with children or pets.
   
   
2. Rewards with Monetary Value – Give out gift cards, event tickets, or offer an all-expenses paid weekend getaway. If your group enjoys a certain restaurant, sports team, or they enjoy travelling, this is a great reward option.
   
   
3. Team Building – Reward employees with an experience that they won’t soon forget. Give employees a break from the office, boost morale, and, best of all, get to know them better with team building activities.

There’s no magic formula to perfectly match recognition or rewards to employees. Some individuals on your team might prefer certain types of recognition or rewards over others. By getting to know your team better, you can begin to tailor the type of recognition or reward to employees based on their interests.

Get to Know Your Group with Team Building

Spending time with employees by team building is a great way to get to know them better.

When you know what your employees are interested in, you’re more likely to be able to recognize and reward them in a way that is meaningful to them.

Let the team bonding begin. Get to know your team better with one of our Top Team Building Activities, such as Wild Goose Chase, Minute to Win It.

What Are Your Thoughts? We Want to Know!

Find out more by getting in touch with us at 1-800-565-8735, via email at info@outbackteambuilding.com, or by requesting a callback using our Contact Us form.