When Audrey M. Serban gives her staff members rewards for work done well, she can be sure the reward is something the employee will like.
This is because she has a list of “favorites” for each staffer, and chooses the gift, large or small, from it.
Serban, manager for a professional office in New Jersey, says, “I thought I’d share an idea that seems to work great. I created a ‘favorites’ list for our staff to fill out. Of course I completed mine first and handed it out.”
How does the list work?
“It basically asks each person to fill in their favorite restaurant, foods, snacks, drinks, and so on,” Serban says.
The lists provide valuable information when it comes to managing staff.
“As a reward for doing a great job, I will take a look at their favorites list and give them something from their list. For example, our office services clerk who canceled a hair appointment to stay late to make sure a filing went out got a $10 Starbucks gift card the next day. Or our receptionist who came in earlier to set up for a last minute meeting got a bag of M&M peanuts,” Serban explains.
The value isn’t in the dollar value of the reward.
“These rewards, which could cost as little as $1.25, really mean a lot to the staff receiving them,” Serban says. “In the end, we all want to know that someone appreciates what we do.”
Medical Office Manager wants to send you $100. Tell us how you solved a problem, implemented a successful program – or share any idea we can use in our Reader Tips column and we’ll send you $100. Contact barb@plainlanguagemedia.com
