Keeping staff motivated through incentives
“The secret is to make an emotional impact. There’s no course or university degree that teaches you this; it’s a skill that is developed by understanding how to push the right buttons for the right people.” Mercedes says, “It’s staging adventures that people will remember for years to come.
Mercedes and her team devise and participate in these adventures. “Like all travel, there is the unexpected and how you handle that, determines the difference between success and disaster. Not long ago there was a plane delay which was beyond anyone’s control – but the game of cricket in the airport departure lounge, with hastily bought, but fabulous, duty free shop prizes, is still talked about today. It was quick simple and fun – most of all, distracting.
“On another trip in Dubrovnik we pretended the bus had broken down and clients were provided with bicycles to ride into the entrance of Nelahozeves Castle making it a memorable journey. Only trouble was, on the way home the bus really did break down – and we didn’t have any bicycles secreted around the corner that time. The participants thought it was another stunt and it will be a long time before we live that one down.”
If it sounds like a dream job, it is. Although there is no time off. “Even in Noumea on my day off clients joined me in a hip hop class, and while I might be lying beside the Adriatic Sea you can be sure I am working through the checklist for the next event.”
“We’re in the throes of the incentive revolution and companies that don’t plan to promote incentives and motivate staff will fade into history.”
If you’re going to be part of the incentive revolution do it right.
- Don’t try to organise travel if you haven’t done it before. Hire a professional.
- A big incentive trip isn’t for everyone. Be careful the reward isn’t a burden.
- Incentives have to be achievable. Push your people to increase their output by 10 percent more than they already are – not 100 percent.
* Australian Incentive Show, 2008
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Looking after your staff
It is true that staff want to be recognised and rewarded. Equally important is that companies want to ensure their investment in their staff has the desired effect. Reward programs need to be structured correctly, with appropriate and memorable rewards.
Great article. It is true that motivation of staff can be done through incentives. Small business owners should take this seriously. They need to vary their inventive programs to avoid a monotonous scenario. The reward/incentive program can range from cash bonuses, travel allowances to small reward trips to specific destinations.
Really great article that highlights the fact that employees really do appreciate incentives. I have had my fair share of Managers in my time each with their own style and the truly successful ones are always the ones that know how to treat their staff.
Sometimes this can have a negative effect as proved by a friend of mine who worked at a call center. She was by far the top sales person and got a whole lot more bonus pay than anyone else so in the end the boss had to put a bonus cap on the month to stop the other employees becoming upset.
She argued that she deserved the bonus but the other staff members were becoming so jealous of her success that it was actually affecting their overall performance.
I think as long as everyone is happy with the incentive program it is essential for a company to move forward.
It shows money is not the only thing to motivate employees.