The puzzle of motivation
Dan Pink - TED
Dan Pink explains why rewards and bonuses often fail for creative work, and how autonomy, mastery and purpose drive better performance.
Key takeaways
- Carrots and sticks work for simple, routine tasks only.
- Autonomy, mastery and purpose drive motivation for complex work.
- Many workplaces still reward in ways that research does not support.
Reflect on it
- Which part of my role gives me the most autonomy, and how do I use it?
- How could I give my team more ownership over how they work?
Add this to your CPD log
Sign in to save what you've read - we'll create a free CPD log for you.
Dan Pink looks at decades of research on rewards and finds a gap between what science knows and what business does.
Why it is worth 19 minutes
If you manage people, it will change how you think about bonuses, targets and job design.
The key points
- Traditional if-then rewards work for simple, mechanical tasks.
- For creative and complex work, they can reduce performance.
- Intrinsic motivation rests on autonomy, mastery and purpose.
- Giving people more control over their work often improves results.
Where to go next
Compare it with Herzberg's motivation theory and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
Turn it into CPD
Watch the talk, then answer the reflection questions under the video and log it to your free Passport.
Add this to your CPD log
Sign in to save what you've read - we'll create a free CPD log for you.