CHAPTER 5Recognition

“There are two things people want more than sex and money . . . recognition and praise.”

—Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

No finding in all of psychology and human resources is more consistent than the positive impact of recognition on employee performance. Fundamentally, people simply want to be recognized and acknowledged for their efforts and contributions. Whether at work, among friends, or with our significant other, we want to know that what we do matters and is appreciated. Although there are many forms of acknowledgment, the most powerful is social reinforcement, that is, praise. In our research, people overwhelmingly identified a simple thank you as the most important and meaningful form of recognition. ...

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