What Actually Motivates Us at Work

The common belief, especially in America where raw capitalism is seen as patriotic and a core part of our identity, is that if you want to see more of a certain behavior, you reward success and you punish failure. You incentivize the high performers, and you give the poor performers the boot.

However, research has time and time again proven that too often this is not the case, especially in the modern workplace. This talk by Daniel Pink is a gem and so critical to understanding how to manage and lead organizations that are GREAT rather than mediocre. It surprises me how often I mention it, and the person I’m talking to has no idea what I’m referring to.

As an employee, entrepreneur, or just citizen of the world, consider how you can increase the freedom and self-responsibility in your life, the pursuit of knowledge and new skills, and the purpose and mission in your life. Even if your organization doesn’t quite have it right, consider how you personally can lift up your fellow co-workers and create a better atmosphere for motivation and success. And don’t be afraid to agitate for change!

As a manager and leader, consider how to increase the opportunities for your team to work independently, driving responsibility down the organizational pyramid. Consider how to create paths for your team to learn and improve themselves without worrying that they’ll get too good and leave for new opportunities (if you’re doing it right, making your team so desirable that other companies want to poach them is exactly what will make them stay where they are — where they can use and continue to improve their new superpowers). Finally, consider how to create a vision and culture (and not just a pie-in-the-sky statement… actions speak louder than words!) where your team members wake up in the morning and proudly say to themselves, “I’m making a difference.”