Three tips to reward your staff when you run a small business

Where good leadership nurtures professional growth, rewards nurture the human condition. Both are twofold to business success, no matter the size of the enterprise, writes Carly Shamgar, CEO and co-founder of nano-gifting app, Shouta.

It may seem difficult to offer rewards as a small business owner, where profit margins are slim and resources are limited. But for every key company milestone, celebratory dates or staff member hitting their KPIs, rewards shouldn’t go neglected in the name of keeping low costs.

In a recent survey by Shouta, it showed that 88 per cent of respondents believe gifts don’t need to be expensive. Utilising rewards are beneficial to the glue that holds your business together — your staff, your team.

It goes further than a short hit of dopamine we get when we receive recognition or a gift. The long-term effects are built into the team DNA. It boosts team morale and builds employee trust. People feel heard and seen, fostering overall job satisfaction. As a result, it encourages an engaged team that results in more motivation, productivity and creativity.

Especially after months of lockdowns, WFH isolation and reduced office capacity, rewarding and thanking your support systems — the glue of your business — are more important than ever.

Here’s how to get started, with three top tips on rewarding your staff:

Personalise the reward

We’ve all (mostly) been there. Having a boss with a stash of bulk-bought wine and their go-to gift hamper. It feels a little generic, even though the thought is there. So don’t be that boss. Instead, tailor the gift to that specific staff member. A coffee addict would much prefer $50 worth of pre-paid coffee over a bottle of wine, or a green thumb would love a new plant baby over some supermarket flowers. It’s different for everyone, and it doesn’t need to take much at all. It just needs to make the person feel valued.

Reward staff based on the same outcomes

Keep rewarding structures consistent. Set a benchmark and the reward for achieving it. If one member hits their KPIs, make sure you reward everyone for the equivalent KPIs. Staff talk, so if you’re not offering a level playing field it can create an air of bias and tension. And those feelings will be mainly directed at you.

Don’t hold off until a big event to reward

Whether you’re in a stage of growth, or you’ve taken a step back from the day-to-day operations, ensure you’re checking in on how your staff are doing on a regular basis. When there’s positive feedback, reward deserving staff. Don’t wait until the EOFY party or Christmas wrap-up to say thanks. Recognition going unnoticed throughout the year will make you seem out-of-touch.

Three practical, simple ways to reward staff today:

1. Emails and thank you notes

Send a personal email or hand-written note giving thanks. Or even make a special mention in the next staff WIP or monthly newsletter. Even better, tell them the positive impact they’ve had on the business. Make them feel a part of the bigger picture.

2. An easy nano-gift

Have you heard of Shouta Biz? It’s the modern gifting sidekick that allows you to send surprise gifts directly to your team members’ phones. Whether you Shout the whole team or one person for a job well done, you can customise the gift for the ultimate nonchalant-yet-cool reward. Think Friday team drinks after a gruelling work week, or movie tickets to a cinema buff colleague who’s gone above and beyond for a client.

3. Raises & promotions

This is a no-brainer. If someone is going above their role, reward them with something long-term like a raise or promotion (or both). If this is tricky to do as a small business, still prompt the conversation on what incentives could work for them. Whether it’s a timeline, additional training or a commission — opening that dialogue is a reward in itself for them to feel seen, heard and invaluable to your business.

One last thing: rewards should be fun. That’s half of the point. It shouldn’t feel like a chore, but something you look forward to doing for those around you. It only takes a small gesture to create a big impact — for your staff and the health of your small business. Celebrating wins and recognising hard work means more than you think.

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