It’s funny how the bosses think we’re so stupid something like Fish! Philosophy is all they need to “motivate” us to put out, but CEOs are so hard to motivate that there’s an entire body of corporate governance literature about how it’s necessary to give them tens of millions of $$ in salaries, bonuses and stock options just to keep them from taking a suitcase full of $100 bills and buying a one-way ticket to Bermuda.

At the hospital where i work, they actually celebrated National Hospital Week by giving us a little booklet of inspirational quotes about how fulfilling it was to help others for the sheer sake of giving, without expecting any rewards. It included a Hindu proverb about how the rainclouds gave without expecting any repayment.

I’m surprised it wasn’t followed immediately by a disclaimer: “You DO understand all this raincloud stuff and ‘giving our time just for the sheer joy of it’ crap only applies to you, right? We NEED our bonuses and million-dollar salaries. You: rainclouds. We: greedy corporate bastards.”

* money: why is everybody trying to convince me all the time that pay is not really motivating. Strange that it does seem to work with the bosses!

* self-development : take away my chances of growing and I will suffocate, or find alternatives (that you may not like at all), or leave, depending on my prospects.

* respect, pride and autonomy: treat me like a donkey and I will act like one, or leave, depending on my prospects. show me I don’t count and I won’t count for you. Crusaders lived 1000 years ago. I’m not one of them.

* social contact: good colleagues are important in life

Margus: Yeah, it is a little confusing. I explained the model more in depth here:
http://positivesharing.com/2006/12/why-motivation-by-pizza-doesnt-work/

Does that help?

Sarah D: I love your assertion that “Of all the incentive programmes I’ve been part of during my career, NONE of them has ever done anything for me, to the point where I felt myself mentally withdraw from any employer even hinting at relying on these kind of tactics.”

Can I quote you on that?

And self-control is definitely a large part of why I’m self-employed :o)

Arnoud & Squish: Great point. The best leaders are not only motivated by getting results – but motivated by helping others get results!

Terrence: There’s definitely a follow-up post on the way, but first I’d love to hear your ideas!

mage: It may be a step to something else – but then it’s still positive, ie. something you want.

Claus: “Have to” is a powerful motivator but only in the short term. While it takes more work to get to the “want to”, once you do you have created sustainable long-term motivation.

PDR: Exactly!

Elaine: That is it. That is how you take it from external motivation to internal – by connecting those dots.

Scot: Immeasurement certainly ought to be a word :o) Let’s make it one!

Kevin: Your comment shows precisely why rewards don’t work. The recognition itself is nice, but tying it to 1/10 of a mug just demeans it.

Tony: Great point. If you consistently can’t find motivation in what you do, maybe there’s something more fundamental you need to think about.

Gal: That’s it – you can’t motivate others.

Mage: I honestly think you can’t motivate others. This doesn’t mean that you “give up” – it means that you work harder at helping them find their own motivation.

When all else fails, you CAN motivate others, but only in the short term. Sometimes short-term motivation is just the ticket!