Reward Programs That Actually Boost Collaboration
by Lisa Bodell for ForbesWomen
Most incentive programs are designed to reward individual performance — not team accomplishments. But as research grows about the value of collaboration, it’s essential that companies find ways to incentivize and reward collaborative behaviors.
Organizations like 3M, PepsiCo, and DigitalOcean already use diverse approaches to incentivize collaboration. Rewards can be financial, non-financial, experiential or focused on public recognition — whatever best reflects your company culture and motivates teamwork.At tech company DigitalOcean, for example, teams who demonstrate collaborative behavior are rewarded with non-financial gifts like new Kindles loaded with the CEO’s favorite business books. At the other end of the spectrum is PepsiCo, which bases 40% of an employee’s annual bonus on how well they’ve helped other employees improve their careers.In the middle ground between annual bonuses and a free Kindle is 3M — creator of Post-Its, double-sided tape and all sorts of other stuff my office can’t live without.