Reward Getting To The Top
by Sarah C.

There is getting to the top and then there is getting to the TOP…either way make sure great accomplishments are matched with great awards.Now not everyone is John Huston and Tyler Fish - the amazing duo that recently became the first Americans to reach the North Pole without any aid by dragging all their gear behind them, wearing cross-country skis (and sometimes snowshoes), in a 475 mile trek to the top of the world. But for your employees, associates, team leaders, family members and close friends who reach the top of their world, you can, and should, make sure they are duly rewarded.When your family and friends tackle mounting obstacles and come out on top, what do you do for them? These are the people you know about the most. What do they like? What have they accomplished? How can you incorporate the two? Has your child who previously battled failing grades in school recently flourished? No doubt there was hard work and dedication involved on everyone's part. But the tutor already got paid, and you now have more pride in your child than you know what to do with - so what about them? Keep their sense of learning brewing in them with a trip to the aquarium, space center, museum or hall of fame. For the bench warmer who finally earned a starting position or the coach who turned around the underdog team, get them tickets to their favorite sporting event, concert or Broadway show. Don't forget to keep your stubs and include them as part of scrap book or a customized keepsake Certain memories should last forever and with a little effort you can make sure that they do.What about the employee who figures out a way to cut your 2009 spending without eliminating jobs or outsourcing them? Or the employee who orchestrates the annual charity event pretty much single-handedly each and every time? Well, here's something to remember when thinking of how to reward them; employees like perks! It is a fact: we spend most of our time at work. What's more, we are currently in a situation where a large amount of the benefits and perks that once were commonplace in the work environment have fallen away. So give them that front row parking spot, or those wonderful Friday summer hours. Yes, giving a nice plaque that recognizes their achievements is definitely in order, but that will mean so much more when they look at it everyday knowing that on Friday their summer weekends start at 1 o'clock!Teammates, whether that means sports or other organizations, sometimes become a second family, and your team leader often becomes the patriarch or matriarch to the whole bunch. So when they take your team all the way, reward them with the things that they enjoy. At this time of year there are spring and summer festivals sprouting up everywhere. Pitch in and award your wine lover with a trip to a wine tasting event or a food festival for your foodie. Is there a charity that is close to their heart? If so, you can make their gift a donation to that cause.Remember that a 'thank you' or a 'great job' and a pat on the back can go a long way with the little daily feats of life, but for the big stuff, think just as big and make it personal. Those are the awards that last a lifetime.