Incentives Can Make an Engagement Difference

Incentives, the motivators behind the reward-and-punishment system of behavioral psychology, have long been acknowledged to have a major influence on the actions and attitudes of individuals. I know it works with our new puppy.

It was proven again in a recent study in the Netherlands. When offered a small amount of money for each correct answer, IQ test responders scored 6% higher than those who were offered no reward. Those with higher scores presumably were incentivized to spend more time and effort on their answers.

If you are concerned about commitment, motivation and discretionary effort at your organization, how might incentives and employee engagement training help your employees spend more time and effort on the job? What incentives might appeal to them?

Here is a potential list of how you might motivate your workforce with recognition and rewards for superior performance:

·         A personal message from the CEO

·         An announcement in the newsletter

·         A coveted parking place

·         A bonus tied specifically to a performance goal that has been reached

In general the most effective incentive is one that would mean the most to the individual employee.