Page 48 - Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles

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Reward and Recognition Programs Don’t Work

Tim. It is not my intention to insult or embarrass them or any-
one else using such programs. My only goal is to educate and
help you understand why recognition programs fail.

Reason 1: Programs Fail Because
They Are Programs
Reward and recognition programs fail for the same reason
that diets fail—because they are programs! Programs are
nearly always designed to accomplish a specific goal in a rela-
tively short time period, for example, losing weight for a college
reunion. Here’s a great illustration of the difference between the
short-term impact of a program and the longer-term impact of
changing one’s lifestyle. My friend Mary tries every new diet
that comes out, and she is constantly losing and gaining the
same fifty pounds. Recently, I saw her and she looked great. I
said, “Wow, what diet are you on?” She responded, “I’m not on
a diet.” That is the right answer! Programs fail because people
view them as something to be done for a period of time and not
as something that needs to be incorporated into their lifestyle.
If you’re a healthy person, you eat healthy food—not because
you are trying to lose weight or be healthy, but because who you
are is a healthy person and healthy people take care of them-
selves. Can you develop programs that create “yo-yo” motivated
employees? Yes, but is that what you want? No, what you want
are employees who work hard all the time and not just when
they are chasing carrots.

Programs don’t fundamentally change employees’ beliefs or com-
mitment to their job; they just change their behavior during the
course of the program.