MONEY OR RECOGNITION: A STUDY ON MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS IN DELIVERING BETTER PROFESSIONAL RESULTS

Abstract

The objective of this T.G. was to present how professionals view the impact of salary and recognition on their willingness to work better, seeking to understand which of these factors carries more weight in delivering good results in companies' day-to-day routines. The methodology used comprised the following research methods: in the first phase, a bibliographic review was used with the purpose of analyzing, in the literature, theories on human needs, the difference between internal and external stimuli, and current management practices for retaining talent; in the second phase, a descriptive and quantitative field survey was carried out, through an online questionnaire that gathered the opinions and realities of 102 people with active experience in the job market. The results obtained indicated that the great majority of people rate money and recognition as having exactly the same importance in their day-to-day lives. In addition, the data collected showed that almost half of the workers feel valued by their superiors, but consider their salary to be low, and that true recognition, for the group studied, translates into real opportunities to take on new positions. It can be concluded that managers cannot focus on just one type of incentive, since salary is the foundation that ensures livelihood and fairness, while appreciation builds a stronger commitment to the work. To motivate their teams, organizations need to combine adequate pay with clear paths for professional growth.