<description>&lt;p&gt;On today’s Dear Heretics segment, Kelli and Nolan analyze why traditional bonus programs fail at early-stage companies, advocating for flexible sprint incentives and spot bonuses over rigid annual structures that create organizational debt.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Support our Sponsor:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Metaview &lt;/strong&gt;is the AI platform built for recruiting. Check it out: &lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.metaview.ai/heretics"&gt;https://www.metaview.ai/heretics&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;* Our suite of AI agents work across your hiring process to save time, boost decision quality, and elevate the candidate experience.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;* Learn why team builders at 3,000+ cutting-edge companies like Brex, Deel, and Quora can’t live without Metaview.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;* It only takes minutes to get up and running.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;KEEP UP WITH NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Nolan: &lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/"&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kelli: &lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/"&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;—&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For coaching and advising inquire at&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://kellidragovich.com/"&gt;https://kellidragovich.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;—&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;TIMESTAMPS:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(00:00) Introduction: The Bonus Program Question&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(01:04) The Cyclical Wave &amp; Sales Incentives&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(01:42) Why Early-Stage Companies Struggle&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(02:46) The Coin-Operating Problem&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(03:26) The 96% Problem: Legacy &amp; Recruiting Pressure&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(04:34) You Can’t Put the Toothpaste Back&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(05:30) Equity Over Bonuses&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(06:09) Inconsistent Application Across Teams&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(06:43) Walking It Back Is Brutal&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(08:06) Sponsor: Metaview&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(09:28) Technical Debt vs People Debt&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(11:10) Second Order Consequences&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(12:31) MBOs Are a Fable&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(12:53) The Solution: Sprint Incentives&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(14:04) Surprise and Delight: Spot Bonuses&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(15:08) Discretionary Budgets &amp; Agility&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(15:54) Final Thoughts: Avoid People Debt&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(15:59) Outro&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit &lt;a href="https://hrheretics.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&amp;#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1"&gt;hrheretics.substack.com&lt;/a&gt;</description>

“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies

HR Heretics

Rethink Your Bonus Program

OCT 21, 202516 MIN
“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies

Rethink Your Bonus Program

OCT 21, 202516 MIN

Description

<p>On today’s Dear Heretics segment, Kelli and Nolan analyze why traditional bonus programs fail at early-stage companies, advocating for flexible sprint incentives and spot bonuses over rigid annual structures that create organizational debt.</p><p>Support our Sponsor:</p><p><strong>Metaview </strong>is the AI platform built for recruiting. Check it out: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.metaview.ai/heretics">https://www.metaview.ai/heretics</a></p><p>* Our suite of AI agents work across your hiring process to save time, boost decision quality, and elevate the candidate experience.</p><p>* Learn why team builders at 3,000+ cutting-edge companies like Brex, Deel, and Quora can’t live without Metaview.</p><p>* It only takes minutes to get up and running.</p><p>KEEP UP WITH NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN</p><p>Nolan: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/</a></p><p>Kelli: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/</a></p><p>—</p><p>For coaching and advising inquire at</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://kellidragovich.com/">https://kellidragovich.com/</a></p><p>—</p><p>TIMESTAMPS:</p><p>(00:00) Introduction: The Bonus Program Question</p><p>(01:04) The Cyclical Wave & Sales Incentives</p><p>(01:42) Why Early-Stage Companies Struggle</p><p>(02:46) The Coin-Operating Problem</p><p>(03:26) The 96% Problem: Legacy & Recruiting Pressure</p><p>(04:34) You Can’t Put the Toothpaste Back</p><p>(05:30) Equity Over Bonuses</p><p>(06:09) Inconsistent Application Across Teams</p><p>(06:43) Walking It Back Is Brutal</p><p>(08:06) Sponsor: Metaview</p><p>(09:28) Technical Debt vs People Debt</p><p>(11:10) Second Order Consequences</p><p>(12:31) MBOs Are a Fable</p><p>(12:53) The Solution: Sprint Incentives</p><p>(14:04) Surprise and Delight: Spot Bonuses</p><p>(15:08) Discretionary Budgets & Agility</p><p>(15:54) Final Thoughts: Avoid People Debt</p><p>(15:59) Outro</p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://hrheretics.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">hrheretics.substack.com</a>