One of the recent trends on television are shows about surviving in the wilderness or on a deserted island.  Shows like Dual Survival, Survivorman or Naked and Afraid usually involve 1 or 2 people put into a dangerous situation with limited or no resources to show how you would survive long enough to get rescued.  Even though I know the situations are manufactured and there is a camera crew filming every move (with instructions not to help unless it is a life or death situation), it is still interesting to watch the human spirit break, causing the participant to have to leave or get medical attention and forfeit their place.

Then there are those cases where the castaways excel, and don’t just survive, but they THRIVE.  One of the most recent episodes had a man who was stranded for 21 days, yet actually gained weight over that time period, whereas most participants can sometimes lose up to 25-30 pounds over the course of 21 days.  He found many sources of food and water for both he and his partner, and even completed the journey by himself after his partner had to leave the game due to illness.  This man even made a homemade sign to put on his shelter before he got rescued – on it he wrote THRIVE using the ashes from his fire.

Is your recognition or incentive program merely surviving – seemingly hanging by a fragile thread?  Straightforward, regular communication can play an important role in its revival.  Michelle Chappell points out how effective communicating program success can be towards maintaining positive momentum in a QIC post:

“Communicate:  The New Year is the perfect time to send out a new piece of communication to your participants.  Inform them of what is new and, if applicable, share some success stories from the previous year.  For example, if you are running a safety incentive program share how you have improved your safety metrics over the past year.  Some metrics you improved could include a reduction lost time days or recordable injuries.”  See her entire post here.

Updates throughout the year will have similar results.  Monthly, quarterly and semi-annual communications keep participants engaged and motivated.

In another QIC post, Rob Miklas discusses incorporating all available communication tools to maximize the effectiveness of channel sales or customer incentive programs.

“Once you have verified the strategic objective of your program, it is imperative that your tactics are supportive of it – and employ best practices. Take communications, for example. Let’s say that that increased market share is the primary strategic objective of your channel sales or customer incentive program. You should then use all of the available communication tools – email statements, program web site messages, etc. – to educate your participant on the unique benefits of your brand versus your competition.”  Read Rob’s full post here.

Having a successful recognition or incentive program does not come without challenges, but it is up to you to use the tools and resources on hand to get the most out of your program.  By doing this, you will find that it is almost easier THRIVING than it is just surviving.  Send us your SOS and we’ll come to your rescue!