Unlocking Potential with Streak Incentives

Are you an employer striving to unlock your team's full potential? A groundbreaking study from the University of Alberta reveals a game-changing strategy: instead of traditional single bonuses, consider implementing “streak incentives” to supercharge your workforce’s productivity.

The Power of Consecutive Task Completion

Research led by marketing professor Katie Mehr indicates that employees are significantly more motivated to complete work when rewarded for consecutive task completions. These streak rewards encourage workers to maintain momentum, leading to greater output even if the total payouts are slightly lower than fixed bonus structures.

Achieving Goals in Succession

Mehr co-authored the research published in the journal *Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes*, and emphasizes the compelling nature of achieving goals in succession. "Achieving things consecutively seems to ignite a fire within people, making them want to continue pushing forward," states Mehr, who specializes in motivation and prosocial behavior.

Study Insights and Findings

The study, which included six comprehensive experiments with over 4,500 participants, is the first to conclusively demonstrate the effectiveness of streak incentives in workplace settings, providing practical and cost-effective methods for employers to enhance their teams' drive and productivity.

During the experiments, participants had to choose between performing tasks for payment or engaging in leisure activities. One group received progressively increasing rewards for consecutive task completion—earning one cent for the first task, two cents for the second, and three cents for three or more tasks in a row. In contrast, another group received a fixed amount (like three cents) for each non-consecutive task performed, earning more overall despite completing fewer tasks.

Challenging Conventional Economics

"The results are clear: even with lower potential earnings, those in the streak condition completed significantly more tasks," explains Mehr. This challenge to conventional economic theories, which suggest higher pay equates to increased productivity, highlights an intriguing insight into human motivation.

The Satisfaction of Maintaining Streaks

Furthermore, the study shows that people derive a deeper sense of satisfaction from maintaining a streak. This commitment to achieving consecutive goals could propel employees to aim higher regarding their overall earning potential.

Implementing Streak Incentives

However, Mehr cautions that while the payment difference between the two schemes shouldn't be drastic, streak incentives can be a powerful motivator when designed thoughtfully. If the incentive gap is too wide, it may undermine the effectiveness of the streak reward system.

The Broader Implications of Streaks

Past research from co-author Jackie Silverman of the University of Delaware supports these findings, showing that people perceive individuals with active streaks as more committed to their goals. "Emerging studies suggest that streaks wield a surprising influence over our behavior—acting as a profound motivational tool," Mehr adds.

Beyond the Workplace

Interestingly, the allure of streaks isn't solely confined to the workplace. Much like the thrill of hitting hot streaks in gambling or sports betting, human psychology appears to be wired to respond to these patterns of success.

Conclusion: Embrace the Streak for Enhanced Productivity

By adopting streak incentives, employers may find themselves unlocking new levels of productivity from their teams—proving effective motivation doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag! Embrace the streak and watch your team's performance soar!