Incentivize to Survive

Job interivews are essentially dates, but with suits and no alcohol to ease the tension. There is a survival-of-the-fittest mentality to both that lasts beyond the initial introduction and impacts both parties. The employer-employee relationship is a delicate one that involves wooing on both sides. Employees want to impress the boss, but employers need to keep their workers energized and interested in their daily responsibilities. Finding the right way to express "Good Job!" can be difficult, especially in tight economic times. With your help, employers can get creative with their budgets and find new ways to appreciate their workers.

Where to Find Your Mate
For the ideal business gift client, try the financial district, car dealerships and hospitals. "Our distributors have had a lot of success with banks and financial firms, insurance, automotive and pharmaceutical industries," said Thomas Farrell, marketing coordinator for Indianapolis-based EMT.

If you want to cast a wider net, Chuck Dahlgren, president of Crystal D, St. Paul, Minn., cited a WorldatWork study that found that "eight out of 10 companies have recognition programs." Crystal D's own research shows even more promising results. "Our research shows that most companies (86 percent) have recognition programs in place and 70 percent of those organizations offer between three and six different programs," he explained. "In the next 12 months, 90 percent of organizations plan to continue their programs. Based on these statistics alone, distributors can be confident that their business can grow by selling recognition awards in any industry."

Dahlgren had more specific advice for finding the best program-interested clients. "Instead of limiting their focus to a certain industry, distributors should look for specific characteristics that indicate a selling opportunity for one-time or program-based recognition," he said. He listed the most important characteristics as a business culture where leaders care about employees, personal and professional development is stressed, and a value system is in place.