Dan Pink on the Surprising Science of Motivation

In this video from TED, Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories -- and maybe, a way forward.

Comments

[William Wilkie]

In the 1970's I gave selected employees the opportunity to identify a project based upon their passions but which would have benefit to the company. I indicated that if successful, it could lead to full-time involvement.

Many under performing employees were catapulted to new levels of performance around the new project; however, surprisingly they also became much more productive in the boring part of their jobs.

JBU has a DESIGN DEGREE that emphasizes the creative 21st century mindsets that PINK talks about. How could they create a new 21st century reward system to replace grades and test scores. I believe it is Princeton University that is experimenting GAMING type alternatives that approximate what PINK explains.

These experimental results don't apply to just business. They are valid for higher education and maybe even the church...which should be driven by intrinsic motivators. What would this kind of church look like???