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They’re Playing My Song, Ma
By Ron | May 21, 2010
Regarding “inspiration as worker incentive,” Consultant Dov Seidman states that companies are still “asking employees to play by the rules, to follow company policies and using just carrots and sticks to compel or incent them to do so (perform) is a system that is fraying and showing its limitations – especially in a recession when there are fewer carrots to go around.” His suggestion is…”not to get leadership and culture through governance, but to get governance through leadership and culture.” He goes on to say, “I think we have entered the era of inspiration. When you are inspired, you are acting from within. You are guided by beliefs that you hold to be fundamental. You’re pursuing a mission that you think is worthy of your dedication.”
Dov, we have always been in the era of inspiration whether management knows it or not. Intrinsic motivation has always been the most powerful incentive. It is just that most managers I’ve known believed that workers will only jump through their hoops for financial or material rewards. They regarded anything else has “touchy-feely” nonsense foisted upon them by those Human Resource people.
Dov is right about this - now that there are fewer financial incentives available, managers can’t dangle carrots in front of their employees anymore. Maybe, Maslow’s and Herzberg’s theories are still as valid today as they were back then. This is definitely our chance as Human Resource professionals to help our managers focus on appealing to the intrinsic motivation of our employees. Dov is coining a new term for it (inspiration) and that’s okay; let’s just don’t miss this window of opportunity.
Topics: HR | 2 Comments »
May 21st, 2010 at 5:27 am
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