Every diligent and hardworking employee deserves praise and appreciation. The more positive reinforcement that leaders and managers give to team members, the more productive they become. Today we list ten simple suggestions for rewarding high-performing employees and teams:

• Dinner with the Boss

Setting up a dinner with the chief executive or president for your winner can increase loyalty, give them a chance to pitch their ideas and thoughts to a top decision-maker, and make them feel noticed and recognised. As an added bonus, it also helps your boss connect with workers they might not normally be able to reach, fostering a better sense of community and culture at the company.

• The Best Parking Spot

A parking spot that is close to the office or in the shade shows a high level of value and accomplishment. Give it up to your winner for a week as a daily reminder of how you value them. As an added bonus, you could even get a small sign with their name printed on it to show that the space is really “theirs” for the week.

• Award a Small Office Stipend

Giving them a budget to upgrade or redecorate their office is a great way to create a lasting reminder that you recognise their hard work, as well as give them a space they feel good about coming into day after day.

• Free Lunch for the Team

Everybody loves food. But we all have personal tastes. Giving your winner the chance to order their favourite dishes, then sharing it with the team, empowers them while also providing a great perk for the entire office. If you are bored of basic catering or a pizza party, try an office barbecue or even bringing in a private chef to cook for you on-site.

• Festival or Sporting Event Tickets

It is pretty much impossible to find someone who does not love either a certain kind of music or a specific sports team. Not only that, but these events are prime spots for social media posts, giving your winner a chance to show off. Find out before what sort of events are happening near you and grab a pair of great tickets as a reward.

• Cruise for Two

If your work is demanding, it is not only hard to find time to spend with loved ones, but that time often consists of eating or decompressing over some Netflix. Try giving your winning employee some stress-free downtime by booking a romantic dinner cruise or other date night for them to take their partner out on.

• Take the Afternoon Off

More than just a bit of downtime while the rest of the world is working, giving your winner a Friday afternoon off can let them get a jump start on the weekend or plan a trip out of town with friends. Sure, the rest of the team will be jealous when they start packing up at noon, but that is the point. They earned it.

• Attend a Conference of Their Choice

Giving your strongest team member access to the smartest people in their career path is a great way to reward them. Find conferences nearby that line up with what your team is interested in (and what you want them to learn), and pay for the winner to go.

• Lazy Monday Morning or Flex Hours

Just like leaving late on a Friday, giving your winner a late start at the beginning of the week lets them make more plans for the weekend. It also recognises them for their achievement when they come into work, and can even make them happier all day long if it means an easier commute not during rush hour.

• A Well-Designed and Honest Thank You Note

It might seem like a cop out or a throwaway reward, but a well-designed and thoughtful “thank you” note can motivate and propel workers to keep putting in their all. The key here is to put in the effort to show how much you appreciate the worker. Ensure the note is generous, specific, prompt, succinct and personal.

• NB: Ian R Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organsations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at iferguson@bahamas.com.