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700 Introduction to Safety Management
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Recognition and Rewards

Safety rewards come in many colors, flavors, and varieties. We are all motivated by primarily two types of rewards: extrinsic and intrinsic.

What is more important: The reward or recognition?

Extrinsic rewards are tangible and external. These are rewards you can touch, see, eat, or even smell.

  • Money - raises, bonuses, stocks
  • Awards - plaques, pins, cups, certificates, jackets
  • Trips
  • Time off from work
  • Social - parties, lunches

Intrinsic rewards are intangible, internal, and housed within us. They are expressed through the positive recognition others give us and the positive thoughts we think about ourselves.

  • Improved self-esteem
  • Increased sense of purpose
  • Higher credibility
  • Feeling of accomplishment

Now, consider this: Is it the tangible reward itself that changes behavior, or is it the underlying recognition—the intangible reward—that matters most? Like many, you probably believe that the recognition behind the reward is what's most important, and we agree. Being recognized and appreciated by those who matter to us makes us feel valuable, important, and part of something larger than ourselves.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

3-4. Which of the following is an example of an extrinsic reward?