Motivation 2.0

Currently, I am listening to Daniel H. Pink's book "Drive" which discusses what motivates individuals, particularly in the workplace.

What really grabs my attention is Mr. Pink's assertion, like other management writers, is that the American workplace continues to use industrial age management principles in an information age.   The carrot and stick approach, Motivation 2.0 as he refers to it, of monitoring, threatening, and rewarding with extra money workers is still the chosen approach.   Mr. Pink asserts that psychological science knows that there is a much needed change and better way; it's just that business has not embraced this need for change, or Motivation 3.0. 

As I continue to listen and re-listen to this new 3.0 approach, I am taken by how I, too, have been operating under some aspects of the 2.0 model.  Mr. Pink, a trained economist and lawyer, talks about the need for business to turn to R-O-W-E which translates into Results Only Work Environment.  In other words, don't focus on individuals' hours, schedules, etc. but rather on the results they achieve.  This is a major shift for controlled-minded managers in today's world who think toward the short-term.

I believe that in today's information era, we have the tools and technology to deliver extraordinary results.  We have a mindset issue among our workers that needs to change.  Business leaders need to study, embrace, and apply new motivation principles to change this mindset and enable workers to grow and prosper in this information era.