5 Steps To An Impactful Incentive Program In this line of work, the paint by numbers approach rarely works, as no two clients are exactly alike. But Panassidi says there are a handful of guidelines worth following when creating any incentive program. Step 1: Consider the desired outcome of your incentive program. Be very clear about what it is you want people to be able to do or accomplish. In other words, target your audience. Step 2: Use incremental incentives for effective programs. If people do not believe the incentive program’s goals are realistic or that they are personally far from being able to come out on top at the end of the program, they are less likely to be motivated to participate. Offer appealing rewards. Step 3: Make incentives visible. At the end of the program, don’t forget to communicate the results with your audience. It is critical to clearly communicate the goals and the awards. Step 4: Focus on employee commitment to program goals. For any incentive program to have any drive and purpose to it, the target must be meaningful and motivational to the majority of individuals involved. Incorporate training to help them reach their stretch goals. Step 5: Establish rules of conduct for program participants. Establish ethical standards and rules to ensure appropriate practices and correct behavior for everyone involved. Align with your culture. Packaging Matters Achtzehn says, “On Christmas, you give someone a gift, beautifully wrapped, because they are special. They open it, and it’s a shirt. They hold it up and say ‘I love it!’ Give someone a shirt in our industry that is not wrapped, many times not even folded, and soon it becomes a car wash rag. Something worth putting your client’s name on should be worth presenting properly. Same with drinkware and brand name merchandise, which is always packaged to enhance the product. Packaging makes gifting, and gifting is what we do. Bottom line: Packaging makes the gift special. Rector agrees that the unboxing experience matters, especially if you are trying to impress. “A well-designed box can go a long way, and nowadays, they can be created in small quantities,” he says. “But it doesn’t always have to be a custom box. We have customers that use custom packaging tape, custommailers and other subtle brand packaging like stickers. And for our customers who value sustainability, we are shredding their previous custom kit boxes and using the filler in future kits, projects and shipments. All of these measures have meaning and ultimately resonate with the person receiving the gift.” Experts’ Product Picks Janis says the perfect gift always varies. “I suggest something that will be used on a regular basis. Something the employee would not buy for themselves,” she says. “Most people get excitedwhen a new incentive plan is announced. It gives themnewmotivation towork harder and achievemore. It’s another reason to come to the office energized anduse creativity to solve problems in the workplace. However, only the best programs actually achieve those outcomes.” - Stacey Panassidi, Stran&Company | NOVEMBER 2022 | 63 The PPB Guide To Incentive Programs | FEATURE
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