So you’ve got your teams organized into powerful units, and you think they’re ready to give it their all.

What is their motivation? Are the rewards sufficient for overcoming their challenges, or could you offer them more?

We’ve got the blueprint for team incentives that really give teams that extra push in motivation. And we haven’t just got the ‘why,’ we’re throwing in the ‘how,’ too. 

Our list of 21 of the best team incentive ideas is sure to get fuel into those workplace engines. So come with us as we delve deep into what motivates your workforce!

What are the benefits of team incentives?

Work incentives are the benefits a company gives out as recognition of hard work and to continue motivating their staff. As the name suggests, “team incentives” are rewards given out to standout teams. 

Incentives work as “motivational factors” for teams to give it their all at work. They are a statement that you recognize their dedication and they show that you know how to reward them. The benefits of using strong incentive systems in the workplace include:

• Improved cohesion: Incentives involving the whole team like group challenges or productive days out strengthen bonds and teamwork.

• Increased productivity: Recognizing and rewarding efforts by your staff motivates them to work more efficiently, leading to a stronger work culture and higher overall productivity.

• Enhanced morale: Thoughtful incentives and gestures make employees feel valued and appreciated, which in turn improves employee engagement.

• Attract and retain talent: Competitive and attractive incentives really do attract top talent in the industry, and help to keep them with you for the long-term.

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So now we know the benefits, what are the best incentives you can use to reward your teams?

21 incentive ideas to reward your teams with

Incentives can be monetary or non-monetary, and the best ones can enhance an employee’s life both in and out of work. We’ve split 21 of our best incentive ideas into four categories based on: events, recognition, gifts, and resource incentives.

Event-based incentives

Event-based incentives make a big deal out of rewarding your best teams. By going the distance and creating an event that lasts over an evening, a day, or even a whole weekend, you make a bold statement.

It’s like showing them the biggest Christmas present sitting under the tree. These ideas are large in scale compared to the other categories, but if your teams have put in the hard work, then they’re surely worth it!

1. A luxurious corporate evening

Kickstarting our list, organize a corporate event that celebrates your teams in style. The strength of this event is its versatility. You’ve likely run corporate events before, but this time, up the luxury levels with fancy dress codes, elegant food, and recognition awards for your standout teams. 

Combine all of these wow-factors with teambuilding activities at the start of the event, and you’re in for a memorable evening. You want to add those little touches that make your team members feel like VIPs. Use grand lighting and flashy sound systems to elevate the awards on the night. You know a fancy red carpet entrance is worth it!

2. Organizing a team retreat

Productive work retreats are growing in popularity. They provide a wonderful balance of productive work activities with some much-earned downtime, so consider a team retreat or “workation” for a unique way to reward your teams.

Here at Surf Office, organizing work retreats is our bread and butter. We understand the value of a work retreat and the ways a retreat boosts team bonds and company culture. We spoke recently with the Team Experience Manager at Buffer who explained exactly how “Company culture is created at retreats,” and we wholeheartedly agree!

So incentivize your teams with an unforgettable trip to 160+ locations around Europe, APAC, the US, Latin America, and now Africa. Rely on us to plan it all out for you. The sky’s the limit!

3. A satisfying group meal

Organize a team-based evening outing involving fancy dining. It only takes a little planning, like scrolling through the highest-ranking restaurants in the area and also making sure everyone’s dietary requirements are met.

There’s the old phrase; “the way to a man’s (or a woman’s) heart is through their stomach,” so an evening of fine dining is sure to go down a treat. Meals as a group help to build healthy team bonds and raise everyone’s spirit. Go for a fusion restaurant to create some extra sparks of curiosity. Reward your hard-working teams with a meal that satisfies the body and soul, and watch their team spirit soar!

4. Wine-tasting or brewery tour

Raise a glass to a team’s hard work with a wine-tasting or brewery tour, a sparkling and sophisticated way to celebrate success. Local wineries and craft brewery is big business these days, and there are plenty of choices for location no matter where you are.

Incentives involving food and drink allow you to splurge and enjoy the finer things in life. Doing this in an off-site setting creates an experience for all to remember. These days, a lot of wineries and breweries cater to non-alcoholic drinkers, so plan that out beforehand. With options for everyone, it’s cheers to great teamwork!

5. A day out with the CEO

Why not pull out all the stops with an event that brings together your best team and the CEO? Incentivize the activity with all-expenses-paid, and organize a location that will really stand out for them. 

Your teams will recognize how their hard work helps to build bridges with top executives, and you’re showing them you care about their future progression and career development. If you’re the CEO, you probably already know where you can take them to WOW them! So try this one on for size.

Recognition-based incentives

These incentives are focused more on recognizing the quiet yet significant efforts of your teams. Companies focused frequently solidifying a “recognition-rich culture” vastly outperform others, with lower turnover rates and higher engagement.

Sometimes the hard work they carry out can easily slip under your radar. These incentives are more intrinsic, meaning that they’ll feel rewarded in psychological ways, rather than just receiving a physical gift. 

6. Website or newsletter team shoutouts! 

You’ve got your newsletter and group chats up and running, right? Well, make the most of them! Shine a spotlight on a team’s achievements by giving them a company-wide shoutout. This is one of the best ways to publicly sing the praises of their hard work and stay focused on the work in hectic periods.

Get their pictures and achievements flying high in the company newsletter, onto your Slack boards, and on your social media accounts. You’ll be boosting their confidence and injecting them with morale. Get a team leader to give a statement and bam, you’re on the track to positivity and team harmony. Let the whole world know how well they’ve done!

7. Custom emojis of recognition

Getting a bit more specific into the company group chat, try creating quirky and unique emojis customized to a team that’s been doing well. You can get really creative here, and ask your team leaders for some input on the team’s inside jokes or quirky slogans. 

Use designers in the company to craft a fun emoji that represents the team, or do it yourself with a website like Canva. It’s so quick and easy to use! Once you’ve got your fabulous team emoji, add it to the company’s first page of emojis so everyone can share it in a heartbeat. Rotate the team emojis each week to keep everyone engaged. Celebrate your teams in custom-emoji style!

8. Tuition reimbursement

Among your high-flying teams, you’ve likely got members who have their own personal goals and desires for furthering their knowledge and skills. Why not take the opportunity to provide backing for any tuition fees or educational costs as they pursue their development?

Incentivize teams to perform well while promoting a culture of continuous learning in the workforce. By doing so, you’re creating a cycle of growth within the company too, which is a fantastic intrinsic motivator. Tuition reimbursement is a win-win for your teams, elevating them into further education while challenging them to reach their highest level as a team. Use this incentive for a powerful impact felt throughout the company.

9. Bonuses and rewards

A system of bonuses and rewards is a simple and powerful tool for managers to use. While financial rewards work well for teams, sometimes non-monetary incentives can be just as, if not more powerful than cash. Use the versatility of the bonuses within the company to create a lasting impact on the team's morale.

Rewards could be experiential, like paid trips, event tickets, or adventure activities nearby. The whole team needs to be rewarded to make the most of this incentive. Include some development opportunities and exciting workshops, and you’ve got a powerful selection of motivational incentives. 

10. Time off

Our final intrinsic motivator keeps things simple. Give your team a well-deserved break with some paid time off. The truth is that workplace stresses can burn through team morale like a fire through a dry forest. Time off after an especially hectic period can help your teams recharge their batteries and spend time with loved ones. 

You could set this up as extra paid leave beyond standard vacation days for each team member. If the team outperformed others over the space of a week, then try extended weekends to give them an extra break without using up any vacation days. Discretionary personal days which they can use as needed work well too. Help them recharge and promote their well-being with some well-deserved downtime.

Gift-based incentives

Our next category of incentives is the gift-based approach to rewards. These work well as they’re highly customizable to each member, and there’s really no limit on the lavishness of each gift. 

Very often though, simple gifts beat extravagant ones. Some people say that when you give a gift, thought means more than the gift itself, but who knows? (like when your grandmother gave you socks as a Christmas present. You hugged her and told her how thankful you were, but did you really mean it?) 

Anyway, here’s a list of our best gift-based incentives. Use them as you wish:

11. Travel Incentives

Level up your rewards and incentives for your teams with some killer travel opportunities. Travel as part of work is increasingly appealing to employees, especially with the rise of remote and hybrid work. In fact, a Stratos survey highlights that 83% of employees see business travel as an attractive job perk.

There are more possibilities than ever to incorporate travel incentives as rewards in the company. Weekend team getaways, adventure trips and all-inclusive vacations, there isn’t really a limit to using travel as a gift for standout performances. Drive team bonds to new heights with a trip across the world or a team-based work retreat.

12. Subscriptions to popular apps and services

Sometimes we forget just how many people use paid subscriptions and video-on-demand (SVOD) services. Statista has published that in 2023, 83% of respondents used at least one. So why not gift some subscriptions to your standout teams? Netflix of course dominates the industry, but there’s a whole host of fantastic premium apps that are affecting people’s lives in different ways. 

Apps like BetterMe and Headspace are helping millions to form healthy and productive habits, which improves their lives both inside and outside of work. There are a few great apps that help improve sleep behavior too. Encourage and enhance their well-being with a gift they use in their daily lives, or even a bundle of subscriptions. Your teams will thank you for it!

13. Packages of company swag and merch

Show your high-performing workers some love with a package of company merchandise and clothing (we’ll call it swag). Especially good for teams, swagged-out t-shirts and jackets with matching themes and logos reinforce unity and pride in the team and the company as a whole. 

Don’t stop at clothing either. Get the logo or slogan of your teams printed across their everyday items, like their coffee mugs, computer monitors or even stickers they can put on notebooks. Gadgets and gizmos like USB sticks and chargers are very practical for your teams too. Amplify the harmonious vibe of your superstar teams all the way around the office in style (just maybe think twice if you’re thinking of printing your face onto t-shirts for them!).

14. Health and wellness memberships and subscriptions

Prioritize straightforward healthiness and well-being with memberships and subscriptions to health apps and clubs. This thoughtful and forward-thinking gesture is a great way to continue to encourage teams to work at their healthiest and happiest.

There are so many avenues to explore with this incentive, like nutritional programs, weekly food delivery services, and wellness apps like Calm to promote physical and mental health.

Research shows that doing some exercise the day before directly improves performance at work the following day, including boosting your creativity. So help kickstart more exercise with a gift of membership to local gyms, martial arts classes, or even fitness app subscriptions. You’re more than likely going to see improvements in the workplace as a result, not just outside of it.

15. “___” club gifts

Our final gift-based incentive we left blank because we know there are thousands of club gifts you can use to reward teams for their hard work. Whether it’s for books, wines, or gourmet jelly beans, giving teams gifts related to their favorite clubs is a great way to reward them, and the fact that you can personalize it really adds a nice touch.

Teambuilding clubs like craft and DIY classes are a solid way of bringing teams together. Consider asking for a group consensus beforehand to find the most popular club that would please all members, and get those gifts ready.

Resource-based incentives

Our final category of incentives is resourced-based, and it’s been made with a company’s resources in mind. These rewards are specific to your organization and what you are already working with. 

When done right, these might be some of the most powerful incentives to promote continuous learning and internal growth. So take some time to consider your available resources, then work some of these activities into your incentives for some productivity magic.

16. Professional development programs

Continuous learning and employee longevity are the name of the game in this incentive. Weigh up your internal development programs and use them as a team reward. There’s a massive need for companies to focus on optimizing their professional development programs. 

40% of employees with limited development opportunities leave in the first five years, and for millennials in particular, it’s even more important. 87% of surveyed millennials said that development is important in their job. You could be kick-starting their junior years towards promotion with this reward. Your teams will be thankful for the dedication and thoughtful gesture of setting up a development incentive for them. Powerful stuff!

17. Rejuvenate team equipment

Okay so after a big project or group effort, one way of incentivizing professional growth is to take a long hard look at the equipment and space they’ve been using. Would they benefit from new, cutting-edge gear and supplies? Rewarding them with practical equipment that can be used in their day-to-day job like state-of-the-art computers improves engagement. On top of that, there are new ideas in office design that are revolutionizing how teams work.

Take it one step further and revitalize areas in the office as a reward for your standout teams. Let them decide on new changes in office furniture, enhance the breakroom, or any other shared space. You might find new creative ideas for standing ideation areas, recreational rooms, or new artistic office designs. You never know! Try this one out for a fresh new take on the office layout and gear.

18. Work from elsewhere

How about an exciting incentive for your teams? Call it the “work from elsewhere” incentive, and tell them how it allows employees or teams to work from new and inspiring locations. If you’ve got the resources for it, try a day out working elsewhere with the entire department. You could let your best-performing team choose the day’s work spot.

We are witnessing the rise of remote and hybrid workers across the globe. In 2023, 13% of full-time employees work from home, and 28% work in a hybrid model (partly off-site, partly in-office). Isn’t this the perfect time to start incorporating off-site work into team structuring and to prepare for these changes?

Start checking your local area for inspiring new backdrops where teams can collaborate to new levels. You‘ll be breaking old routines and strengthening the team’s spirit as you reward them.

19. Project takeover

So if you’ve weighed up all of your resources and you know exactly which projects can be worked on next, why not try letting your best team take the reigns and choose their next project? This is a really versatile incentive and can lead to some fresh insights. 

Maybe there’s a quiet member of a standout team who privately has an idea for what their team should be working on next. The aim is to encourage team members to speak up and “take over” delegating their next project. By supporting them with their choice, you’re actually building up trust in the manager-employee relationship, so stand by them as they try something new.

Show your teams that their ideas matter by bringing them to life! With the freedom to choose their next step, you’re empowering them with a sense of ownership.

20. Profit sharing programs

This one is more specific to the resources and finances of the organization. Create a “profit sharing” reward system that brings teams closer to the company. This incentive lets teams share a portion of the business’ profits, which can work as an alternative to (or an additional bonus to) traditional plans like a 401k.

It takes a little planning and dedication on your end, but this is a powerful incentive to boost team performance. You’re actually going above and beyond the normal incentives, you’re empowering staff to see themselves as stakeholders and part-owners in the company. You’re also upping the levels of loyalty and the sense of belonging at the workplace. This is a powerful tool, so give it a shot. 

21. Introducing guest speakers

This is a great motivational incentive for teams at work. Use industry experts as speakers for seminars or lectures, which actually works as a double-edged sword. People get to hear insights from industry leaders, which in turn gives them skills to use towards earning the other incentives on our list! See the cycle here?

You’ll want to make sure the speaker is someone who really connects with your teams and excites them. Check with your teams beforehand for a consensus on who they’d love to hear from. The more the guest speaker aligns with your team’s passions, the more value the guest speaker will create. Great stuff all round!