High-performing teams are motivated teams. There are numerous ways to motivate a team, utilizing both extrinsic and intrinsic motivators. One often overlooked yet effective method is through Non-Tangible Rewards.

Non-tangible rewards are non-material acknowledgments given to employees that lack direct financial value. They serve to recognize and appreciate an employee’s contributions and performance.

Examples of non-tangible rewards include:

• Praise from your colleague or manager
• Thank you notes
• Flexible working hours
• An extra day off
• A complimentary lunch

And the options are endless.

Sprint Retrospectives

In the regular Agile team cadence, one of the best opportunities to apply these rewards is during Sprint Retrospectives. While various formats, can be used in retrospectives, non-tangible rewards particularly apply to formats that encourage positive feedback from the team, such as discussing what has worked well.

Seeking Specifics

Many teams focus solely on fixing what went wrong during retrospectives, missing the chance to fully leverage positive feedback. Others might breeze over positive comments, thinking the team is doing well enough.

Effective feedback isn’t just about saying something was good (e.g. great collaboration, good teamwork). It’s about providing meaningful information that helps team members understand their impact.

In the workplace, people are thirsting to learn about how they’re doing, but only if the information isn’t a tacit effort to manipulate their behavior. So don’t tell the design team: “That poster was perfect. You did it exactly the way I asked.” Instead, give people meaningful information about their work.

Pink, Daniel H.. [[Drive]] (pp. 67-68).

Encourage specific feedback (“great tweak to the UI to reduce the attrition issue,” “great to see how the team rallied to resolve the data issue”). Focus on the effort and strategy employed rather than the outcomes achieved or generic praise.

The Benefits

Positive feedback can significantly enhance intrinsic motivation, making individuals more driven to excel for personal satisfaction. When feedback is meaningful and specific, it can transform work into a rewarding experience.

“positive feedback can have an enhancing effect on intrinsic motivation.”

Encouraging teams to give and receive meaningful feedback may seem simple, but it can profoundly boost motivation and team performance.

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I would love to hear your thoughts on how you have used your sprint retrospectives to to motivate your teams?