The Humanevi newsletter
Weekly
Once a week: 5 things worth your time.
1 story, 1 idea, 1 discovery, 1 tool, 1 book.
The Humanevi newsletter
Once a week: 5 things worth your time.
1 story, 1 idea, 1 discovery, 1 tool, 1 book.
Daniel Pink summarizes research on motivation and argues that autonomy, mastery and purpose sustain performance better than rewards and punishments.
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Pink contrasts the logic of carrots and sticks, which he calls Motivation 2.0, with an approach built on intrinsic motivation. He draws on psychology studies, including the work of Deci and Ryan, and on companies that gave teams more freedom. For people who lead others, it supplies vocabulary for discussing why bonuses do not always improve creative work.
Managers, team leads and HR professionals who design goals and incentives, plus teachers and parents curious about motivation. It also appeals to anyone who wants to understand why some tasks lose their charm once an outside reward is attached.
Released in 2009, it leaves out what psychology research has produced since, and some classic findings have been debated in the years after. The prose is light, with stories and examples such as the candle problem and the company days when staff work on anything they choose. The closing section offers practical suggestions in summary form.
Older and newer printings carry equivalent content, so the choice usually comes down to format and relative price. Make sure you have the full edition rather than a summary. It pairs well with So Good They Can't Ignore You, about building skill, and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, for the collective side of management.
