Rewards work pretty well when you need to encourage someone, but it can work even better when they can choose the reward themselves.
A new study shows that companies who allowed their workers to choose a reward from the list get more creative and overall satisfied workers.
Let's find out more.
Let them choose
A recent study by management experts from Rice University, Tulane University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, found that offering employees a range of reward options can significantly enhance their creativity.
Led by Professor Jing Zhou, the study conducted a field experiment within an organizationwide suggestion program.
Results showed that allowing employees to choose from various reward types, if their ideas ranked among the top 20% in creativity, positively impacted the number and quality of generated ideas.
Rewards aimed at helping others, like charitable donations, were particularly effective.
It doesn't always work for non-creative people
However, it was noted that for less-creative employees, such alternative rewards might hinder creativity.
The provision of reward choice also boosted employees' belief in their creative abilities and had a strong impact on those with high creative personality traits.
