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What Motivates Us More than Money?

Daniel Pink What Motivates Us More than MoneyThe answer might surprise you.

In this fascinating talk, cleverly illustrated by the geniuses at RSA, Daniel H. Pink reports the results of recent research.  Pink is the author of  Drive, The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us and A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future.

Incentive experiments have repeatedly shown that larger financial bonuses do indeed lead to higher performance for tasks involving mechanical skill, but “once a task calls for even rudimentary cognitive skill, a larger reward led to poorer performance.”

The results seem to defy the laws of “behavioral physics.” How can that be? And what actually does motivate greater performance?

Welcome to the New Economy of Transcendent Purpose:

 

{ 10 comments… add one }
  • Thnx for writing this resource within your site.

  • I love this video. I find it intriguing that it’s apparently been viewed more often than his original talk. I wonder what motivates us to watch it. Perhaps it draws us in, not just through listening but also by watching. I love the intrigue …. ‘what will they draw next.’

    I’ve just finished his book Whole New Mind and loved it. It’s easy to follow, informative and engaging. Look forward to reading his next one.

    Lee-Anne
    http://www.rpsinc.ca/blog
    .-= Lee-Anne Ragan´s last blog ..Make time to fall, fail and flounder =-.

  • Linda, what synchronicity as I’ve just seen the RSA Animate about Smile or Die. Unbelieveable illustrations that truly make a point and it just goes to show how much closer science, research, spirituality and pyschology are becoming. They are morphing into one. Imagine that???
    .-= John Sherry´s last blog ..Optimism Week – Final Day Ready Steady =-.

    • Linda Gabriel

      Curious John what you thought about Smile or Die? I can see the point vis a vis “killing the messenger” if one is afraid to be the bearer of bad news, but then she went on to lump in positive psychology, law of attraction, and optimism in general. Since optimism is the theme of your blog this week, any thoughts?

  • This is a fascinating video, I absolutely agree with what it says. Glad to see that researches are validating what I thought 🙂 And I love the illustrations! Thanks for sharing.
    .-= Cristina´s last blog ..My style in one picture =-.

    • Linda Gabriel

      Thanks for stopping by Cristina. Glad you enjoyed the video.

  • This research rings true in a lot of ways. It also explains why people sometimes get so demoralized on the job even though they personally are really commited to their work (as distinct from their jobs.)

    I wonder if you can get satisfaction from gaining more and more mastery over something, if there is no recognition or acknowledgement of it by others.

    I think that everyone who supervises others people needs to sit down and read this book.
    .-= Madeleine Kolb´s last blog ..3 Unmistakable Signs That You’re Turning into a Little Old Lady =-.

    • Linda Gabriel

      There’s some interesting research cited by Dan Ariely in Predictably Irrational about how people’s behavior changes when a social contract shifts to a financial one and vice versa. I think it relates somehow to this. When I figure it out, I’ll write a post about it. And yeah, there’s very interesting research that shows people need to have their work at least acknowleged, if not appreciated. So thanks for acknowedging my post!

  • Love the illustrations and the message. On a gut level, I knew this, but it was fascinating to hear about the studies.
    .-= Jean Sarauer´s last blog ..Empire Building 101 Series: Growing a Prosperous Community =-.

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