What is Reward (outcome)?
A reward for outcome is a positive consequence delivered after a specified result has been achieved, reinforcing the chain of behaviors that produced the outcome.
How it works
Outcome rewards connect effort to results, providing a culmination experience that marks achievement and reinforces the entire behavioral chain. They are most effective when the reward is proportional to the achievement, delivered promptly, and clearly linked to the outcome. Unlike behavior rewards (which reinforce the action itself), outcome rewards reinforce the product of action.
Applied example
A sales team that receives a bonus when quarterly targets are met is rewarded for the outcome. The reward reinforces the entire set of behaviors (prospecting, following up, negotiating) that produced the result.
Why it matters
Outcome rewards provide a sense of accomplishment and closure that sustains long-term effort toward challenging goals.
