Employee motivation is a hot topic on many management training courses today. The skills and attributes that have led individuals to climb up the corporate ladder, are not necessarily the same skills and attributes needed to get the best out of their teams.

Some managers are afraid of actually rewarding their subordinates, rather than just not knowing how to go about it. All too often one their biggest psychological obstacles are that they worry that it has to involve money, which senior management might disapprove of.

However, much research has been undertaken which suggests that in order for individuals to feel rewarded by their employees; they don’t necessarily have to receive a financial benefit. Here are some examples of ways in which you can reward your employees without giving them a pay rise:

• One to One verbal thanks. It’s amazing how far a sincere word of thanks or expression of gratitude can go in motivating people.

• Written thanks. Give some praise and positivity on paper – people value what is written, it feels real, and makes it formally genuine. (NB: e-mail doesn’t count!)

• Group thanks. Give praise in front of other colleagues or public. This is guaranteed to have a strong and long lasting motivational impact.