Select the right type of reward

Choosing the right rewards is important to keep motivation high:

• Tangible rewards, like bonuses or gifts, often have the biggest negative impact. They replace the joy of the activity with external motivation.
• Unexpected rewards work better than expected rewards. If someone is surprised with a bonus for good performance, it doesn't affect their intrinsic motivation as much. They were doing the activity for its own sake and the reward was a pleasant surprise.
• Performance-contingent rewards can go both ways. If the reward focuses only on the end goal, it can be demotivating. But if the reward recognizes good performance, saying "You did a great job," it can be motivating. It shows appreciation for the person's effort without taking away their intrinsic motivation.^[1]