When staff members do an exceptional job, going out of your way to reward them shows how much you value their work. It can also help improve your relationships with your staff.
“Sometimes it’s not just about the money, sometimes it’s just about the recognition — the fact that you’ve taken the time to notice the great job that they’ve done,” says Louise Maurice Taylor, coach and owner of Okanagan Valley Business Coach, based in Vernon, B.C. “When you take time out of your lunch hour or on your free time for someone, that really means something.”
Here are a few things to keep in mind the next time you want to reward a staff member for going the extra mile:
Ask what they prefer
Before buying a gift, particularly if it’s from a restaurant or coffee shop, ask the employee if they have a preference.
Gift certificates to a coffee shop can be a great idea as a small ‘Thank You,’ but make sure it’s a place that the employee frequents. For instance, while buying a gift card for Tim Horton’s may seem like a great idea, if the person is a die-hard Starbucks fan it may lose some of its appeal, says Rosemary Smyth, business coach and owner of Rosemary Smyth and Associates in Victoria, B.C, which specializes in working with financial advisors.
Explain the reason
If you give out gifts to staff members annually, such as a gift card or a spa package, they may come to be seen as a regular part of a compensation package. Be clear about the reasoning behind the gift if it’s for a specific action.
As part of the recognition, you could take the staff member to lunch and talk about why you feel he or she deserves the gift, says Smyth.
Ensure they can use the gift
When you give a gift to an employee, make sure they can use it.
For example, if you give a gift card from a high-end store where everything costs at least $100 and you’ve given a gift of $50, it may not be very helpful or useful, says Smyth.
IE