Incentives

“Pay me more and I’ll do more work!”

[Overheard from a staff assistant]

Point to Ponder

[Soon following this remark, this SA was “passed over” for a key promotion.]

“Financial incentives, or ‘pay-for-performance,’ have been demonstrated as effective for improving productivity in jobs that are repetitive or transactional. But as the type of work in our society increasingly evolves toward creative work – such as designing new software, creating new marketing campaigns or inventing new products … not only are  financial incentives less effective in eliciting improved performance, … they can actually impede performance.” 

 “Motivation 2.0's assumptions ... rest on the belief that work is not inherently enjoyable -- which is precisely why we must coax people with external rewards and threaten them with outside punishment. One unexpected finding of the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi ... is that people are much more likely to report having 'optimal experiences' on the job [in heuristic work] than during leisure.” Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us Daniel H. Pink (2009) Riverhead Books 

“ … solving novel problems or creating something the world didn't know it was missing – depend heavily on ... the intrinsic motivation principle of creativity, which holds, in part: 'Intrinsic motivation is conducive to creativity; controlling extrinsic motivation is detrimental to creativity.'”  Teresa Amabile [Cited in “Drive:”] 

So here’s the real question: What incentives drive YOU?  

·         Money/Free trips to exotic places/stock options/ ...?

·         A sense of accomplishment in great jobs masterfully done?

·         Opportunities for growth – to “Become all that you can be”?

·         Continuing education opportunities?

·         Opportunities to build/create/innovate/discover?

·         Being part of something “larger” than yourself? 

·         Opportunities to serve others/Altruistic gratification?

·         “Self-Actualization”?

o   [See Maslow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs]

·         A “corner office”?

·         Being on a winning team?

·         Plaques and awards – being publically recognized?

·         Fringe benefits: Vacation/maternity/paternity leave/healthcare coverage?

·         A “second chance” … the opportunity to come back tomorrow and do even better?

·         Family tradition of excellence?

·         Having a forum and captive audience for your own “Reality Show”?  

What about the “stick” end of a “carrot and stick” approach to moving the world forward? 

·         Fear of missing out on rewards?

·         Fear of penalties/censure/castigation?

·         Fear of losing a job?

·         Fear of deprivation?

·         The threat of competition?

·         “Losing Face” … family/culture/individual? 

But here’s an even “more real” question:  How good are you at “incentivizing” your own engagement = generating “intrinsic motivation”?   

Point to Ponder

 

As organizational charts have flattened, evolving structures have called for more “Chiefs” than “Indians” = more independently engaged individuals … almost like independent contractors within organizations.  This “Sea Change” has created the increased need for intrinsic motivation – finding/creating reasons and ways to generate your own fulfillment/fulfill your own Destiny.] 

Or are you simply content or driven to “work the system” or “game the system” to “get your happy on”?  [Are you an incurable and unrepentant “manipulator”?] 

·         One-ups-manship?

·         Ofbuscation?

·         Control-mongering? 

The true professional finds and creates ways for:

1.    Self-actualization/self-motivation/self-inspiration

2.    Motivation/inspiration of others within the team or work unit

a.    “Leading by example” is an excellent place to start

b.    Being “accountable”

3.    Motivation/inspiration of others outside the team or work unit

a.    Fostering mutually beneficial engagement

b.    Being “accountable”

4.    Motivation/inspiration of those in positions above his/her position

a.    [Whoa! Who does THAT?]

“Stars are hard to see in bright daylight. 

But they’re always there and shine brightest in the dark of night.” 

Pastmaster

“No one can give you what you do for yourself.” 

Arnold Berwick’s Grandfather

[Reader’s Digest, June 2014, p. 46]

 

Grow to understand what makes you “tick” and what best “turns you on” to make good things happen, and indulge it often.  Then you will own your own “incentivization” and create your own place among the stars.  Quartermaster