DRiVE
Like many aspects of life, I am at odds with much of the conventional wisdom that resonates throughout. Of course, its worse because I am in the military. Occasionally though, I will find an another person who feels much like me and my most recent is Daniel Pink.
I stumbled upon his first book “A Whole New Mind” last summer and I loved it – I literally read it in one day. I was in the middle of Field Training and I gave it to my buddies out there and they felt the same way. I highly, highly recommend it for anyone, particularly my friends who are about to enter the “Workforce.” (http://www.amazon.com/Whole-New-Mind-Right-Brainers-Future/dp/1594481717/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266794420&sr=8-1)
This post, however, is about his second book that I just finished – DRiVE
All have heard the classic cliché resembling something like “well, you know, incentives are the key to everything.” What Pink finds is that is, in fact, not true (not necessarily at least).
Pink argues that the motivational structure throughout organizations today is lacking , something he calls ”Motivation 2.0.” Under 2.0, if something is wanted/needed the people in charge simply try to incentive the person in order to get the desired results. Initially it may boost performance, but ultimately it leads to a lack of creativity and burn-out. What Pink argues is that if you really want people to become motivated, you have to give them three things: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. He calls this/these “Motivation 3.0.”
Of course this is at complete odds with conventional business wisdom which relies almost entirely on “carrot and sticks.” Yet, Pink does state that some companies are beginning to understand 3.0 and the benefits that can be accrued. For example, a small software company sets aside 20% of the work week for the employees to work on whatever they choose. What happened was that the things created/worked on during this 20% generated more earnings than the traditional work the other 80% of the time. Best Buy in their corporate sector is now working in a “Results only working enviroment” whereby each employee decides their own hours.
Interesting stuff…
Pink is definitely a trendy author, and, yes, he does use a MacBook, but his message is clear and powerful. Every organization should make this book mandatory.
http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Surprising-Truth-About-Motivates/dp/1594488843/ref=pd_sim_b_1
watch the video as well
