We often conflate recognition and incentives. But they are not the same thing. 

My rule of thumb:

Recognize things you hope will never change. 

Put incentives on things you hope do.

Recognize altruism, helpfulness, honesty, effort, caring, self-management, going above and beyond.

Put incentives on setting more appointments, having more conversations with clients, filling out salesforce.com profiles, closing more sales, engaging with other departments. 

In other words, recognition reinforces timeless values.

Incentives reward measured behaviors that we want more of, less of, or different. 

Recognize things that are immutable.

Reward things that change.