iTeam: Putting the “I” Back into Team

12. Challenge 10: Rewarding Individual Team Members

When my children were in elementary school, they would get a star or some form of recognition for a well-executed assignment. Some teachers gave out points for good behavior and rewarded students who accumulated a certain number of points. The philosophy behind this reward system is the same one I used as a boy teaching my dogs tricks, giving praise or a treat when the behavior was what I was looking for.

Rewards recognize achievement but they also motivate, providing a reason to continue for excellence (in the case of the recognized individual) and to strive to excel (in the hearts and minds of onlookers). Motivational rewards come in many sizes and flavors. For example, Little League baseball ...