B
BAM Accelerator · Worksheet
Two pages. Print to PDF for the participant handout.
Accelerator Mini-Masterclass

Reward great staff
without just paying more.

Fair pay is the floor. These are the other five currencies.

Name
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Section 01

My great staff

One person you absolutely do not want to lose. Be specific, not diplomatic.

Name and role
What makes this person genuinely valuable
How do I currently reward them?
What do I THINK they value most?
Have I actually asked them?
Yes No
The Great Employee Tax: if the only reward for being excellent here is more work, my team learns that excellence gets punished. Check yourself, has this person’s job gotten better as they proved themselves, or just bigger?
Section 02

The Five Currencies

Money is the floor underneath all of it. These are the five most owners never spend.

Recognition
Being seen, specifically.
Specific 3-sentence praise · handwritten note · parent compliment forwarded with a line from you · a story told about them at the staff meeting · work anniversary that isn't an afterthought
Trust
Being handed the keys.
First pick of the schedule · decisions up to $X without asking · choose their own students · owns the recital · input on curriculum · flexible admin hours
Growth
Getting better at something.
Paid conference · course or coaching budget · cross-training into marketing or admin · a monthly hour with you on how the business works
Opportunity
A bigger seat at the table.
Mentor new teachers (paid) · department lead · launch a new program · present at staff meeting · represent the school publicly · sit in on planning
Lifestyle
Their real life gets better.
Surprise day off · extra PTO · preferred schedule · early close after a heavy week · dinner or concert tickets for two · food delivered during recital week
Money (not a raise)
Weight and proof.
Spot bonus · performance bonus · retention bonus · professional development budget · profit share on a program they run
Section 03

Five questions for my next 1:1

Ask two or three, not all five. Write down what they say the same day.

  1. 1When you've gone way above and beyond here, what's something besides a raise that would actually make you feel appreciated?
  2. 2What's the best part of your week here, and what part would you hand off tomorrow if you could?
  3. 3If I could change one thing about your schedule to make your life easier, what would it be?
  4. 4What do you want to be better at a year from now, and is this the place you can do that?
  5. 5When I recognize your work, do you want it said publicly or just between us?
What to listen for
  • Time and schedule language → Lifestyle
  • “I’d love to learn / try” → Growth
  • “I wish I could just decide” → Trust
  • “Nobody knows I did that” → Recognition
  • “Where does this go for me?” → Opportunity
Their currency
Person
Top currency
One thing they said, in their words
Section 04

My next move

Fill this in before you close the laptop.

Within the next 7 days, I’m going to recognize/rewardbybecause
  • It's specific: I can name the exact behavior and its impact.
  • It matches THEM, not what I would want.
  • The size fits the contribution.
  • It's on my calendar with a date, not a someday.
  • I'll post what I did in the community by Friday.
BAM Accelerator · The Five Currencies