What type of motivation is demonstrated by the sales manager's recognition of Sophie's contribution?

The recognition of Sophie's contribution by the sales manager is a clear demonstration of performance recognition. This type of motivation involves acknowledging and appreciating an individual's efforts and achievements, which can boost morale and encourage continued high performance. When a manager recognizes an employee's contributions, it not only validates the employee's work but also fosters a sense of accomplishment and belonging within the team. This form of motivation is crucial in maintaining employee engagement, as it emphasizes the value of their work and can inspire others to strive for similar recognition through their own high-performance efforts.

In contrast, award-based incentives focus on tangible rewards rather than recognition of performance itself. Improvement feedback is directed at providing guidance for development and is typically more corrective in nature, while feed-forward input relates to suggestions for future improvements rather than acknowledging past performance. Therefore, performance recognition best captures the essence of the sales manager's action, which is centered around appreciating and acknowledging Sophie’s specific contributions.