Every team has its mix. You have the overachievers who thrive on going the extra mile. Then there are the reliable, day-in-day-out contributors who keep the wheels turning. And yes, you’ve probably got a few under-performers who haven’t quite hit their stride.
As a leader, your job isn’t just to recognize top talent, it’s to inspire performance across the board. That’s where a well-calibrated employee rewards strategy comes in. When you align the right rewards with the right actions, you don’t just drive results, you build a culture of fairness, motivation, and continuous improvement.
Here are three ways to make sure your employee rewards match the performance you want to encourage:
1. Reward the Behavior, Not Just the Person
It’s easy to fall into the habit of rewarding your high-flyers—and they deserve it! But don’t overlook those isolated wins from team members who are still finding their rhythm. A single breakthrough moment from a quieter performer can be the start of real momentum. Recognize it.
Fact: According to Gallup, only one in three workers in the U.S. strongly agree they received recognition or praise for doing good work in the past seven days. And yet, recognition is a top driver of engagement and performance.
When you reward the behavior—whether it’s from your rockstar or your rising star—you reinforce the culture you want to build.
2. Make the Rules of the Game Crystal Clear
If you have a bonus or rewards program, make sure employees know exactly how it works. Tie specific actions or results to specific outcomes, and leave as little room for interpretation as possible. That’s how you drive performance and keep things fair.
A transparent framework, like performance tiers or achievement milestones, helps your team understand what success looks like. No second-guessing. No whispers about favoritism. Just clear, motivating goals.
3. Equip Your Managers to Deliver Fair Rewards
Your managers are the ones closest to employee performance. But they need the right tools to track achievements, deliver timely recognition, and avoid unconscious bias.
Whether you're running a centralized program or allowing team-level autonomy, ensure that leaders have access to easy, equitable reward distribution options.
The Engage2Reward™ Gift Card Ordering Platform makes this simple. Managers can instantly send gift cards across hundreds of popular brands—physical or digital—based on individual milestones, team goals, or company-wide initiatives. It’s secure, scalable, and flexible, making fair recognition easier to implement than ever.
Final Thought:
Recognition shouldn't be reserved for the few. It should be part of your everyday workplace culture. And with the right tools in place, you can turn small wins into big momentum.
Looking for more guidance on building a performance-based rewards strategy? Let Bianca AI, our 24/7 gift card strategist, help you create a program that fits your goals and motivates every member of your team. Or give us a call to chat with one of our gift card experts about your needs.
