My point didn't quite come off how I intended. I do agree that a "good job" here and there are essential. Praise for a job well done should be an integral part

My point didn't quite come off how I intended. I do agree that a "good job" here and there are essential. Praise for a job well done should be an integral part of being a competent manager or tech lead. But this can't be seen as a replacement for communicating worth to the employee by financial rewards. When the company itself tries to set up some process for praising good work as an alternative for financial rewards, that's where it becomes manipulation.