Big and Little Pats on the Back

In Lansing it was an old bowling trophy we found in a store room and named “Flo”.
In Toledo it was a small statue of a Chinese Man in ancient costume and a fortune cookie.
In Roanoke during 2008 it was a game ball that each recipient gets to sign each week they win.

No matter the city, for the past 15 years or so, I have worked with Sales Managers to make sure we gave out weekly recognition for our “Salesperson of the Week”.

The winners typically do something special or extraordinary and are recognized in a sales meeting in front of their peers.  The “traveling trophy” doesn’t have to be fancy, but it has always become something meaningful to the whole team.  Always.  Add in something else special—- that doesn’t have to cost much and you really have a whiz-bang of an award.  Here (and in Toledo and Lansing, Michigan) it is a parking space.  The coveted parking space by the door (along with the prestiege that goes with it) is way more motivational than you’d think.  It’s small, simple and weekly and a fun way to recognize effort and achievement.

Today, we did a little annual recognition too.

Brad Martin was named our Salesperson of the Year for 2008.  He had an outstanding year and is on track for another great one in 2009.  Repeating is a huge accomplishment because so much of the measure is new business development.  Right at his heels were Bob Sowder and Ernie Chandler who both had great years as well.  We had a little goal for each of our AE’s and these three made it and we used a fun little candy bar as an award—- it worked well and the recognition was much appreciated.  (If you want to hear what specifically we did—- send me an email directly at and I will let you in on the secret.)  It was a lot of fun!

Recognizing success always is.

Try it and see for yourself.