I just completed a webinar for a prospective client for an employee recognition program.  The beginning of the call went well, which by my standards means it was an interactive discussion of the many parameters that constitute the construction of a successful employee recognition program.  As we reviewed the participant shopping experience provided by IncenTrac™  – and the thousands of reward choices available – the train began leaving the track …

In simple terms QIC’s reason for being – our mission – is to help organizations meet critical goals and deliver rewards that make participants feel appreciated.  The composition of rewards is an important factor in any successful employee recognition program; providing participants with a plethora of memorable and valuable reward options.  This may seem obvious, but we want the participant to be pleased with the selection – which serves to increase engagement and overall program success.  My prospective client wanted to limit reward choice to only a few items, derailing an otherwise promising exchange.

Here are a few points regarding employee recognition programs – and the importance of reward selection.

• Don’t rely on subjective opinion – people have different preferences and would rather choose for themselves.
• Don’t forget the secondary participants – your program participant’s family!  Spouses and children may have a say in choosing.
• No Merit to Millions – but offer a broad selection of desirable rewards.
• When selecting an employee recognition solutions provider, make sure to ask about regular program reviews which can provide insight into redemption trends.  Adjustments to the reward selection can then be based on actual program data rather than subjective opinion.

Reward redemption data can sometimes be eye-opening for the client!  Comments such as “I can’t believe they ordered so many toys!” or “I didn’t know we had so many golfers!” may be overheard.  This is important information for the client, because future program communications could (and should) highlight these popular items.  Content which reflects actual program activity will get read by the recipient if it includes an image of a new Callaway Driver that they would like to have in their golf bag!

Hopefully, my conversation with my prospective client will get back on track, but for now remember – when it comes to employee recognition programs, leave reward choice up to your participants.  They know what they want better than you!

by Mike Sullivan

Mike has more than 15 years of experience designing and implementing incentive and recognition programs. He specializes in employee recognition and multi-step channel sales incentive programs. When not tending to his clients’ needs, Mike can be found wetting a line on a local waterway or traversing a hiking trail with his wife Michelle.