Inspiring Workplaces 
The Way Work Ought to Be!

#1,129- June 17, 2026

The American superstar soccer player Brandi Chastain benefited from having a wise grandfather. While attending her soccer games, her grandfather would reward Chastain with $1 for every goal she scored, but $1.50 for every assist she made, incentivizing her to be a more well-rounded team player. 

The outdoor clothing and gear company Patagonia rewards ensemble players while letting it be known that they have no tolerance for employees who seek out the limelight or demand special treatment. 

The tech company Digital Ocean offers incentives and awards for collaborative behavior, including Kindles preloaded with business books (a fabulous workplace gift idea, incidentally).

A bank in Denmark lets its employees know that half of their assessment will be based on how well they contribute to the kind workplace their colleagues want to return to on a Monday Morning. 

And at PepsiCo annual bonuses are tied to what employees have done to help other employees succeed. 

So, the question of the week is this: How might your workplace or team do a better job incentivizing the assists and not just celebrating the goals?