What Really Motivates People

Dan Pink gave a TED talk where he discussed the motivations for people to be more innovative and creative. In order for people to perform better they require autonomy, mastery, and purpose in their jobs. The problem we face is that typical management focuses on compliance as opposed to true employee engagement.Mr. Pink mentions how one company's one day of autonomy each quarter produces better fixes and more innovative ideas than offering cash bonuses. Having management get out of people's way and letting the employees work on whatever they want with whomever they want delivers more positive results in 24 hours than any incentive program. Why? Because it's fun and the employees get better at doing what they do.What really motivates people is challenge and mastering a skill, as well as making a contribution. People who are highly skilled love taking on new challenges, becoming masters of their field, and giving back to the world.When an organization decides to change its culture to be purpose-driven, it gives employees more of a positive feeling about going to work, which is also a way for the company to attract better talent! Companies that focus on purpose are flourishing.Bottom line, is your company a place where people are excited to get out of bed in the morning and go to work? Do your employees feel that their strengths are being leveraged, that they have the personal authority to make a difference, and is the company's mission to make the world a better place? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc Like Dan Pink, we at wHolistic ChangeSM believe that as we treat people like people, our organizations will be better off and we will have the chance make the world a better place, too!