The Myth of Raises
One of the key factors in improving employee productivity is recognition. In the old days, it was believed that a salary increase is the most obvious tool for encouraging employees to work harder. Since then, several studies have debunked the idea. Employees do not become more productive simply because they are paid more. After all, employees do not calculate the monetary value of every action they perform. They do not compute, for instance, how much they earn every time they finish a report or send out an email. Studies show that while a raise makes employees happy, there is an abundance of other things that can accomplish the same thing.

The Power of Praise
Praise is one such thing. A pat on the back is an important tool for motivating employees. For a manager to be effective, he must recognize that fairness and leadership by example are not the only two values that will inspire his staff to work harder. Sure, we all downplay the importance of the proverbial pat in the back; but deep inside all of us, we find ourselves craving it. Praise is an affirmation that we did something right, and everytime we receive compliments in the workplace, we drive ourselves harder so we can receive the same affirmation the next time around.

The Importance of Incentives
Incentives that do not have monetary value are just as important as praise. Incentive is praise with a physical form. After all, incentive is given as a reward for a job well dome. Oftentimes, managers ignore the importance of non-monetary incentives. This should not be the case as executive gifts, no matter how inexpensive or simple, have been found to dramatically increase employee's sense of worth in relation to actual work accomplished.

What To Give?
Many managers are confounded over the question what to give. They need not be because choosing a gift is easy. Workplace ethics holds that these gifts shouldn't be too pricey, else they may be perceived as a bribe, or too personal, else they're misinterpreted as inappropriate.

The best present to give to your staff who perform well are business card holders. Business card holders make excellent employee recognition presents. After all, who doesn't need business card holders?

Business card holders are requisite accessories for every person in the corporate world. Because they come with segregated compartments, business card holders offer versatile storage. They help you organize your stash of business cards, whether these are yours or other executives'.

Perhaps the best advantage of business card holders, aside from obvious functionality, is that they can be personalized easily. Business card holders may be embossed, engraved, or tagged with designs and scripts, ranging from "Thank You" to a small version of the company logo. The good thing about business card holders is that they come in many colors and designs. They may be made of leather, resin, or high-quality synthetic and may sport a variety of colors and designs.

No matter what you decide to give to your staff, however, never lose sight of the need to recognize their efforts, whether verbally or through gift-giving.