What is the greatest work incentive that a supervisor should recognize?

• A. Everyone has a desire for approval or recognition.
• B. Fear may drive persons to do better work.
• C. Rivalry is a spur to effort.
• D. Constant watching will produce better work.

Answer: (C)

Healthy rivalry taps into the drive to outperform others, giving people a concrete target and a clear gauge of progress. When a supervisor recognizes and channels that competitive impulse in a positive way—with fair rules, measurable standards, and opportunities to shine—it creates ongoing motivation. People push to raise their performance to beat peers, earn recognition, and improve relative standing, which tends to sustain effort over time.

This approach often outpaces mere need for approval, fear-based pressure, or constant observation. Approval can be motivating, but it doesn’t always provide a continuous, action-oriented benchmark. Fear and constant watching can drive short-term compliance but tend to hurt morale, creativity, and long-term performance.

Of course, healthy rivalry should be managed to avoid toxicity—pair it with clear ethics, teamwork, and constructive feedback. When done well, recognizing rivalry becomes a powerful, enduring incentive that keeps people striving to improve.