--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The decision to use recognition as an…" description: "\"The decision to use recognition as an on-the-spot bonus instead of merely pay increases is a fascinating one, because pay increases can create new ment..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/shawn-achor-6891_decision_the-decision-to-use-recognition-as-an-on_1288532.png" --- # The decision to use recognition as an on-the-spot bonus… ![“The decision to use recognition as an on-the-spot bonus instead of merely pay increases is a fascinating one, because pay increases can create new mental anchors for how much the person feels happy earning, whereas the social recognition program is ongoing, unexpected, and harder to form a mental…” quote by Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/shawn-achor-6891_decision_the-decision-to-use-recognition-as-an-on_1288532.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/shawn-achor-6891_decision_the-decision-to-use-recognition-as-an-on_1288532.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/shawn-achor-6891_decision_the-decision-to-use-recognition-as-an-on_1288532.png) > “The decision to use recognition as an on-the-spot bonus instead of merely pay increases is a fascinating one, because pay increases can create new mental anchors for how much the person feels happy earning, whereas the social recognition program is ongoing, unexpected, and harder to form a mental anchor around.” [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognition as a bonus creates ongoing, unexpected motivation, while pay raises set fixed expectations that can limit satisfaction. **In simple terms:** Recognition motivates continuously; pay sets a fixed expectation. Key Takeaway Use social recognition for lasting motivation. Themes motivation recognition incentives psychology Mood optimistic inspirational Type advice motivational When to use this quote - employee rewards - team building - performance management Key Concepts behavioral economics anchor theory Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate recognition with compensation? - What unexpected recognition have you received? A Different Perspective Recognition may be perceived as less tangible than salary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) ## Related quotes > [I'm resultant with them forgetten social recognition, which is strongly opposed that to pornography in the name of modernity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/i-m-resultant-with-them-forgetten-social-recognition-which-is/) Mak\_786 > [ The Nobel Prize comes from outside, it's a social recognition \[reconnaissance\] in a way. And I think a true artist is driven by interior… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-camus/the-nobel-prize-comes-from-outside-it-s-a-social-recognition/) [Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-camus/) > [“that? It doesn’t matter whether someone is better qualified by formal education. Once you are in the same setting as another individual, your ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sperry/that-it-doesn-t-matter-whether-someone-is-better-qualified-by-formal/) Rob Sperry > [The president doesn't get an automatic pay raise, so they can't freeze it for him. But it also does extend the pay rate -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-davis/the-president-doesn-t-get-an-automatic-pay-raise-so-they-can-t-freeze/) [Susan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-davis/) > [We would take a little bit of money out of a huge increase in ballistic missile defense and put it in a place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spratt/we-would-take-a-little-bit-of-money-out-of-a-huge-increase-in/) [John Spratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spratt/) > [Typical pay increases are not enough to motivate employees, but they are enough to irritate them. … Even when companies create seemingly significant pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/typical-pay-increases-are-not-enough-to-motivate-employees-but-they/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Although Caterpillar has fought vigorously against writing guaranteed pay increases into its contracts - and won, every time - it does offer market-based wage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/although-caterpillar-has-fought-vigorously-against-writing-guaranteed/) [Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/) > [Isn't it ironic that pay, perks, and benefits all cost your company at the bottom line, but authentic recognition, especially when it's most unexpected,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/isn-t-it-ironic-that-pay-perks-and-benefits-all-cost-your-company-at/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [We have reached the point where we can lose a game or two and not drop out of sight in the rankings. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavell-edwards/we-have-reached-the-point-where-we-can-lose-a-game-or-two-and-not/) [LaVell Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavell-edwards/) > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [It is easy to speak words of love, or to meditate lovingly upon those people with whom you are in harmony. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ponder/it-is-easy-to-speak-words-of-love-or-to-meditate-lovingly-upon-those/) [Catherine Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ponder/) > [The queen of virtues is the recognition of one's own flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/the-queen-of-virtues-is-the-recognition-of-one-s-own-flaws/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [If I have a system it is limited to a recognition of what Kierkegaard called 'the infinite qualitative distinction' between time and eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/if-i-have-a-system-it-is-limited-to-a-recognition-of-what-kierkegaard/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [While the 1963 Birmingham church bombing is the most historic, there also was a series of church burnings in the 1990s. Recognition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-butler/while-the-1963-birmingham-church-bombing-is-the-most-historic-there/) [Anthea Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-butler/) > [I became a bit of a teacher's pet, and it became known in the school by both faculty and students that I really excelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/i-became-a-bit-of-a-teacher-s-pet-and-it-became-known-in-the-school/) [Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/) ## More by Shawn Achor > [Joy is something you can experience even when life is not pleasurable. Even in the midst of a long run, when your legs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/joy-is-something-you-can-experience-even-when-life-is-not-pleasurable/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Our daily decisions and habits have a huge impact upon both our levels of happiness and success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/our-daily-decisions-and-habits-have-a-huge-impact-upon-both-our/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Beliefs are so powerful because they dictate our efforts and actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/beliefs-are-so-powerful-because-they-dictate-our-efforts-and-actions/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Happiness is the precursor to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/happiness-is-the-precursor-to-success/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Positive and engaged brains are a company's greatest assets. More than time and even more than productivity, people must be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/positive-and-engaged-brains-are-a-company-s-greatest-assets-more-than/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [The idea of investing in the positivity of employees is often low down on companies' priority lists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-idea-of-investing-in-the-positivity-of-employees-is-often-low/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [We not only need to work happy, we need to work at being happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/we-not-only-need-to-work-happy-we-need-to-work-at-being-happy/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [..the more you believe in your own ability to success the more likely it is that you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-more-you-believe-in-your-own-ability-to-success-the-more-likely/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Focusing on the good isn’t just about overcoming our inner grump to see the glass half full. 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It also decreases stress and raises happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/research-shows-you-get-multiple-tasks-done-faster-if-you-do-them-one/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [The research says that being successful doesn't automatically make you happier, but being happier - being more positive - makes you more successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-research-says-that-being-successful-doesn-t-automatically-make/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Spend two minutes a day scanning the world for three new things you're grateful for. And do that for 21 days, The reason why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/spend-two-minutes-a-day-scanning-the-world-for-three-new-things-you/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [“Neuroscientists have found that financial losses are actually processed in the same areas of the brain that respond to mortal danger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/neuroscientists-have-found-that-financial-losses-are-actually/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) [Explore all 96 Shawn Achor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The decision to use recognition as an on-the-spot bonus instead of merely pay increases is a fascinating one, because pay increases can create new mental anchors for how much the person feels happy earning, whereas the social recognition program is ongoing, unexpected, and harder to form a mental anchor around.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shawn Achor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-decision-to-use-recognition-as-an-on-the-spot-bonus-instead-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-decision-to-use-recognition-as-an-on-the-spot-bonus-instead-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/shawn-achor-6891_decision_the-decision-to-use-recognition-as-an-on_1288532.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/shawn-achor-6891_decision_the-decision-to-use-recognition-as-an-on_1288532.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/shawn-achor-6891_decision_the-decision-to-use-recognition-as-an-on_1288532.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The decision to use recognition as an on-the-spot bonus instead of merely pay increases is a fascinating…” — Shawn Achor", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shawn Achor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The decision to use recognition as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-decision-to-use-recognition-as-an-on-the-spot-bonus-instead-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-decision-to-use-recognition-as-an-on-the-spot-bonus-instead-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```