If you only read one book on motivation, you might be missing half the story.
In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin dig into the messy, controversial, and often misunderstood science of motivation. They explore intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, how reward systems are easy to mess up, and why popular advice often oversimplifies what actually drives people at work.
From sales targets to healthcare metrics, Cindi and Geoff explore where well-intentioned rewards changes create frustration instead of motivation, and what to do instead.
Before you change compensation, bonuses, performance metrics, or incentives, listen to this one. Motivation is not simple — and your people will feel it if you treat it like it is.
Episode Highlights:
- Why motivation advice is often oversimplified
- The pros of cons of intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation
- The research controversy behind rewards
- How to avoid accidentally breaking motivation while trying to improve performance
- The key elements employees need to feel satisfied with changing targets
- Navigating the messy business of changing pay structures
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Want to Go Deeper? Check Out Our Recommended Reading:
- Uri, Gneezy. Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work, Yale University Press, 21 Mar. 2023, https://a.co/d/07vHQsd7
- Doshi & McGregor. Primed to Perform, Harper Business, 6 Oct. 2015, https://a.co/d/0ibqm98O
- Amabile and Kramer. The Progress Principle, Harvard Business School Press, 2011, https://a.co/d/0eFJn0Ow
- Cameron and Pierce. “Reinforcment, Reward, and Intrinsic Motivation: A Meta-Analysis,” Review of Educational Research, 64 (3), 363-423, Fall 1994, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1170677
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