One Apple A Day #851 - Recognition
According to this card*, to have the strength of recognition means to "have a strong need to be admired as credible, professional and successful in everything you do."
Indeed, I can see how the need to be recognized can fuel motivation and drive; however, I struggle to fully perceive it as strength.
In my experience, external motivation is always a slippery one. Be it money, status, love or recognition, I always felt that even when I got what I wanted, it was never as sweet as I imagined.
Sure thing, I got the results, and in that sense, it worked perfectly. And I also improved as a person, so maybe yes, it is a strength.
However, recognition to me is more a measure than a goal.
An indication that I did something valuable and useful for others. But, as Goodhart's law states; "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure."
Yet, recognition can also be seen the other way round as the ability to recognize the achievements and contributions of others. From this perspective, I can see its power.
*Strength cards by Dr Ilona Boniwell for Positran.