It’s a new year, a time when we all feel refreshed, refocused, and ready to take on the year in front of us. This new beginning is exciting because we have a blank slate that inspires us to work hard to achieve our goals.
As time progresses, though, that feeling of “newness” can begin to wear off and we start to feel bogged down by everything we have to do.
If you feel this way, imagine how your team feels.
You have an underlying motivating factor that keeps you going – this is your business or dream job. Your team might want to do a good job but they probably don’t have as much motivation behind their actions as you do.
How can you ensure that they keep pushing hard even when their motivation starts to slacken?
Reward Your Team – Show Them You Appreciate Them
Do you have a reward system in your office? If not, you need to. My podcast guest, Andrew Davis, says that providing occasional rewards or bonuses to your team is a great way to show you appreciate the work they’re doing.
It also keeps them on track so that – as a team and as individuals – they achieve the goals set out for them during your annual meeting.
Strategic Ways to Reward Your Marketing Team This Year
A lot of managers give their team annual bonuses. According to Andrew, this might be the wrong approach, particularly if the bonus is puny.
Imagine how you would feel if you’ve worked hard all year long, reaching your goals and deadlines, and then at the end of the year your boss gave you a $100 bonus.
You would be hugely disappointed.
If you prefer the idea of an end-of-the-year bonus, Andrew recommends that it be something big, like a third of their annual salary kind of big.
What he prefers to do is give smaller rewards throughout the year. Every week or every month, give your employee $100. Or, give them some earphones, access to classes or events, or a gift card.
Something that Andrew recommended that made me totally excited was to give surprise bonuses.
Imagine this scenario. You’ve been working hard, reaching your goals. You’re proud of yourself and your boss has told you how much they appreciate your hard work. You’re happy and ready for another day of work.
When you walk into your office, there’s an envelope on your desk. It has $100 in it. Imagine how excited, grateful, and motivated you would feel by the surprise. That’s definitely opposed to the expectation people can start to feel when there are planned bonuses.
Your Appreciation Will Get Your Team Through the Year
We all want to be validated and appreciated, especially at work.
If your team is doing a fantastic job – show them and tell them on a regular basis just how much you appreciate their hard work.
Displaying your gratitude for their efforts on a regular basis will help your team plow through the year, helping your business continue to grow and thrive.
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