Reading Time: 2 minutes

Six Rules To Give Rewards

Main Takeaways
Reading Time: 2 minutes In most organisations, recognition and financial reward go one for the other. This approach misses the point of recognition: people are motivated by more than money. Six rules by With Jurgen Appelo to give rewards and to increase people’s performance and enjoyment.

Six Rules To Give Rewards

In most organisations, recognition and financial reward go one for the other. This approach misses the point of recognition: people are motivated by more than money. With Jurgen Appelo's Six Rules to give Rewards, you increase people’s performance and enjoyment.

  1. Don’t promise rewards in advance. — Give rewards at unexpected moments, so that people don’t change their intentions and focus on the reward.
  2. Keep anticipated rewards small. — Sometimes you cannot prevent people anticipating a potential reward. In such cases, according to research, big rewards are likely to decrease the performance of people.
  3. Reward continuously, not just once. — Do not look just once per month or once per year for something to celebrate. Every day can be a day to celebrate something.
  4. Reward publicly, not privately. — Everyone should understand what is rewarded and why. The goal of giving rewards is to acknowledge good work and have people enjoy it too.
  5. Reward behaviors, not only outcomes. — Outcomes can often be achieved through shortcuts, while behavior is about decent work and effort.
  6. Reward peers, not only subordinates. — Rewards should not come just from the manager. Find a way for people to reward each other because peers often know better than managers which of their colleagues deserve a compliment.

Further Readings

Appreciation card template: Appreciation CardGive your colleagues, co-workers, and friends a smile — give them appreciation! Use this free, printable Plays-In-Business appreciation card template.

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