Rewards! The Best Way to Keep Your Momentum Going

Published September 29, 2021

About the role

This role centers on building a culture of recognition through meaningful, specific rewards that celebrate team members’ accomplishments, shifts, and milestones. The goal is to move beyond generic perks and instead create personalized, brain-science-backed incentives that reinforce competence, scrappiness, and a sense of being valued.

Responsibilities

• Listen actively to team members to identify individual preferences, interests, and needs for thoughtful rewards.
• Design and deliver specific, meaningful rewards tied to concrete outcomes, behaviors, or milestones (e.g., sending a team member’s favorite tea with a note acknowledging their extra effort on a project).
• Link rewards to observable actions—avoid vague praise like “great job” and instead highlight details such as tenacity, innovation, loyalty, or cost-saving efforts.
• Incorporate brain-science principles by ensuring rewards activate the parietal lobe (the brain’s reward center) to incentivize repeat performance.
• Foster a culture of celebration for both individual and team achievements, regardless of team size.
• Encourage leaders to model self-reward as a way to reinforce personal and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Experience in leadership, team management, or behavioral wellness/professional development consulting.
• Strong listening skills and attention to detail to tailor rewards to individual team members.
• Ability to recognize and articulate specific behaviors or outcomes worthy of celebration.
• Understanding of the psychological and neurological benefits of rewards in driving performance and engagement.

Skills

• Thoughtful, personalized communication (e.g., crafting notes that highlight specific contributions).
• Creativity in designing low-cost but high-impact rewards.
• Observational skills to identify team members’ preferences and accomplishments.
• Ability to integrate rewards into team culture seamlessly.

Benefits

• Rewards that reinforce a sense of competence, appreciation, and belonging.
• Increased team engagement, performance, and retention through brain-science-backed recognition.
• Opportunity to create a positive, affirming work environment that celebrates progress and milestones.