How Can We Truly Motivate People Beyond the Carrot and Stick Approach?

I liked this idea of mind mapping and the concept of the stick and the carrot. The carrot is the legendary motivator that the donkey never gets. I hope we can overcome all, understand people's needs, and motivate them in the true sense.

Regards,
Cheryl Dias

Re: Motivation Theories

Very comprehensive "all-rounder," "jack of all..." approach.

Another interesting notion to exploit is the extremely powerful WIIFM? mindset.

WIIFM? - WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

This can bring down mountains, and the underlying triggers are easy to understand:

> Employee placed in a situation where responsibility is expected, in reward for a salary.

> After an undetermined lapse of time, the salary in itself will no longer suffice to act as a pure motivational driving force (repetition, saturation, in-house dissonance, environmental constraints... whatever will seep in and offset the initial motivation - wages).

> Person will be faced with WIIFM? or WLIIFM? - WHAT'S LEFT IN IT FOR ME?

This dissonance will force the employee to seek another "branch to climb."

> Authority, Competition, Daily Results-Oriented Money Reward, Sheer Experience, Workplace Familiarity, Superior Accreditation, FlexiTime, Social Recognition... Anything goes!

> Once the employee has passed this "Point of Further Reward"... You will have Human Machines in your workforce!

Think about it... Did we not cross that bridge sometime or another... Introvert, observe... You'll conclude exactly how powerful WIIFM? actually is.

So, to conclude, if you want to spark hidden, subconscious forces in your workers:

Simply ask them the question: So guys! Now you know what must be done. So what's in it for you?

Just be sure to have positive movement answers because most are too busy grinding the stone to realize and actually put their finger on "Why am I so fed up with work for?"

Cheers.

DL.

Hello Cheryl:

"I hope we can overcome all, understand people's needs, and motivate them in the true sense."

If we hire for talent and manage effectively, motivation is seldom a problem.

Hi Bob,

I agree, but good talent also needs the boost that they get from motivation or the environment created for motivation.

Cheers,
Cheryl

Hello Cheryl:

"I agree, but good talent also needs the boost that they get from motivation or the environment created for motivation."

We cannot find talent on a resume. When we hire for talent, we hire employees who are motivated by the job and the environment.