Non-Financial Rewards

David Maister has a good, thought-provoking post on his blog today, on the topic of using non-financial currencies, particularly in situations where a boss is unable to reward a good performer with a raise (or presumable other cash-based alternatives).  He shares a list of fifteen common non-financial rewards and asks "which of these are best?" and "are some of them dangerous?"

At the top of the list are things like approval (well done) and gratitude (thank you).  I believe that these are powerful and underutilized rewards, at least in some of the places I have worked.  Further down the list I start to get a little nervous.  Access to information?   Rapid response by manager?  I worry that you would risk creating more problems than you would solve with some of these.  And, of course, there's #11 titles (official and unofficial);  how many of us have dealt with the aftermath of that type of reward?

Check out the post and share a comment.  It could be an interesting discussion!

Comments

[Peggy Andrews]

"Access to information? Rapid response by manager? I worry that you would risk creating more problems than you would solve with some of these"

If Maister is suggesting that a manager give an employee access to otherwise confidential information as a "non-cash reward," then I agree with you - I'd be worried about how to manage that type of reward system long-term.

From an HR perspective, I'd also worry about a manager that thinks that a rapid response or access to standard (i.e., "non-confidential) business information is a "perk" rather than simply routine business management!