Rewards. At a couple of my last jobs, my bosses were always shocked that I didn’t care about monetary rewards. It’s not that I didn’t want the money, it’s that I wasn’t motivated by it. I’m still not. In fact, it was always a little insulting to me – that I would somehow work harder if I had a carrot dangling in front of me. I always worked hard and was devoted to my employers.
It seems that I’m not the only one. This is a great presentation from Dan Pink from the RSA on motivation.
What really motivates a cognitive employees is:
- Autonomy – the ability to have ownership and make your own decisions.
- Mastery – the opportunity to master a talent or skill.
- Purpose – put someone in a position where they actually make a difference.
So… save your money and stop alienating your employees. In marketing, I see so many business leaders interfering with their marketing department’s success… actually hurting it or destroying it altogether. Get out of the way and give your employees the opportunity to drive the results you want them to attain. Show them the goal line and motivate them with the opportunity to actually transform your business.
