We are offered rewards from early childhood, and they are prevalent in the workplace to encourage employees to produce more or better outcomes. If you achieve a goal or exceed the expectations, you are compensated.
Yet, what is it that we are rewarding others for? We reward the children who respond with the correct answers and the worker who can ‘get on with it with little explanation and guidance. We reward outputs and outcomes.
We often do not reward curiosity or the desire to improve. What about the questions that show attention and thought or the characteristics that demonstrate potential and growth? Where do new ideas come from, and how do we improve if we aren’t rewarding this forward-thinking? If we reward solely on past performance, we miss out on the potential and possibility. If we can create a system for employees and even children that rewards them for their curiosity and inventiveness, we receive all we asked for and more people who feel vibrant and motivated.
