Motivation. We all struggle with it, and we all wish we had more of it. In this TedxTalk, Dan Pink, previous speechwriter for Al Gore, dives headfirst into the topic and explains that most of us have it all wrong. Generally speaking, business and project managers seek to increase productivity and creativity of their subordinates through incentive. It seems obvious enough: If I offer you a reward for finishing a task the fastest and the best, then surely your motivation will skyrocket. Studies show however, that this model does the exact opposite of what you’d expect. Offering rewards seriously limits the scope of one’s creativity. Thinking outside the box becomes increasingly difficult when the focus is merely getting to the end as fast as possible in order to get a reward.
What’s the solution? The best way to increase high performance on tasks is utilizing what Pink calls ‘intrinsic motivation’. These are things that we inherently desire, and they are as follows:
1) Autonomy – The urge to direct our own lives
2) Mastery – The desire to get better and better at something that matters
3) Purpose – The yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves (cue Fleet Foxes “Helplessness Blues”)
Can I be frank for a minute? Listening to this TedxTalk I couldn’t help but think about how Invisible Children literally does all of these things. People keep asking how it is interning here, and it honestly is everything that Dan Pink describes and more. We all made the decision to come here despite nonprofit work being far from the perceived American dream of making tons of money and living the good life (we live a different kind of good life that I wouldn’t trade for all the money in the world, by the way). We all seek to improve at our skill whether it be writing like me, or working on motion graphics in the Art Department. It’s all about learning and improving. And finally, purpose is the reason we’re all here. The desire to serve something greater is what led each individual to this office and it’s indescribable to work in an office filled with the most incredible & diverse talent, knowing that we have at least one thing in common. The purpose.
So to bring it all back, motivation isn’t always easy. However, if you can strike a balance with autonomy, mastery, and purpose, I guarantee that you will be more satisfied with your work, your life, and you’ll find that motivation is easier to come by. Take it from me. I’m writing this blog from a resort in Orlando (#dontbejealous), where I’m technically working on vacation. I love what I do so much though, that it couldn’t feel any less like work. In the past, had someone said I’d be working on anything other than laying out by the pool while on vacation I would’ve laughed in their face. Literally. But here I am, at 19, working while on vacation and I love every minute of it. Dan Pink, you most certainly have me convinced with this TedxTalk.
Think people should hear about this?