What do you place greater value on, praise or pay? Why?
The interviewers are curious what your motivators are and are also attempting to discern your big-picture lens. How you answer will reveal your leadership skills, whether you are primarily concerned about money more than the work itself, or if you'll sell yourself short--which could convey a lack of ambition.
By validating this question from a leadership standpoint, you'll be able to navigate this question. Exhibit your understanding that some employees who receive constant praise throughout the year will be less let down by an average pay increase than if their accomplishments went unrecognized. Answering this question wrong could show that you are only in it for the money, which frames you as a less desirable candidate. The trick to answering this question is by exhibiting an understanding of why they ask this question and displaying your big-picture thinking.
"I'd say they're not mutually exclusive. In any leadership setting, taking a unified approach of ensuring you're delivering prompt, often, and specific feedback creates greater engagement and a more rewarding experience for the team. It also offers each member of the team a firm footing in knowing where they stand in their performance, keeping them in tune and out of the dark by not having to wait until review time to get a performance evaluation. But without rewarding their efforts through pay increases...well, words are nice when it comes to praise but actions speak louder than words."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I believe that both are important. I put my best foot forward always and try to ensure that things flow as smoothly as possible. I take pride in my work and being acknowledged for that matters and offer encouragement in continuing a job well done. Performance increases also encourage one to continue their best foot forward.
Jaymie's Feedback
Your response has a perfect balance with context that supports your opinion. Great job!
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