On Motivation and Compensation

When it comes to motivation, there’s a gap between what science knows and what business does. Business operating system–which are built around external, carrot-and-stick motivators–don’t work and often do harm. They need an upgrade.

And the science shows the way. This new approach has three essential elements:

  1. Autonomy - the desire to direct our own lives.
  2. Mastery - the urge 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.

We pay by market value. We don't pay by position, we don't pay for performance, we don't give incentives & bonuses.

We let purpose drive behavior; not numbers, or manipulative and controlling processes.


Tags: motivation, for professionals