Motivate Your Team with Recognition and Rewards
Reinforcing desired behaviors makes people feel good and leads to more of the same.
When I managed a small software group long ago I initiated a simple (and slightly corny) recognition program. When someone reached a minor milestone or helped someone else solve a problem, I gave him a package of M&M candies with a tag attached expressing my congratulations or thanks. Larger achievements generated bigger bags of M&Ms or something more substantial. It wasn’t much, but it was more than we were used to.
The chocolate always disappeared immediately, but several people put the message tags up around their desks. To them, the important thing was the words indicating that their manager noticed and valued the progress. They enjoyed — and appreciated — the recognition of even small achievements.
We also gave such micro-recognition awards to people outside the group who helped us in some way. It brought smiles to their faces and goodwill to our relationships. M&Ms worked with our team; other social recognition techniques might work better for yours.
However you choose to do it, appropriate praising and commendation helps to build the culture of teamwork and achievement we all want. Use rewards and recognition to reinforce the desired values…
