If selecting a gift for a relative or friend whom you know well often feels tricky, imagine choosing tangible rewards for hundreds of employees, channel partners or other business associates.
A “let them choose” philosophy has led to the increased use of cash-equivalent gift cards as rewards. Critics of that strategy say cash-equivalent gift cards often get added to a household budget and the reward recipient quickly forgets they were recognized at all.
“Giving the right gift to a person who appreciates tangible rewards can send a powerful message of thanks, appreciation and encouragement,” states Paul White, co-author with
Gary Chapman of “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace.” Selecting the wrong tangible reward can have the inverse effect, leaving an employee feeling they are misunderstood and turning an expression of appreciation into a token gesture.
White offers three keys to successfully using tangible rewards as an expression of appreciation in the workplace:
- Give tangible rewards to employees who appreciate them. While a gift is extremely important to some individuals, it provides minimal affirmation to others. Learn your employees’ preferred language of appreciation. (White’s and Chapman’s other languages are words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service and physical touch.)
- Give a gift the person values. Yes, it takes time to get to know the personal interests of your employees, but that’s exactly the point. Appreciation starts with knowing those you appreciate well.
- Add a personal touch. It’s more than the reward that matters. Include a handwritten note that provides specifics on why you are rewarding the recipient. If the recipient is comfortable with being commended in front of peers, that is as meaningful as the reward itself.
