Pile On Motivation

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Category: Entrepreneurial

  • Analyzing the deep meaning associated with this quote

    Let us analyze the deep meaning behind the following iconic quote of Simon Sinek:

    “Excitement comes from the achievement.

    Fulfillment comes from the journey that got you there.”

    Excitement is like an addiction that can be stimulated by attainment of short term targets and results in a shot of dopamine.This is never long lived though and the addiction mentality seeks for more awards.

    Whereas fulfillment is always in the long term without focusing on short term addictive targets.Fulfillment can happen when we realize the power of social bonds and engage in a long term journey.Fulfillment results in flow of “love hormone” named Oxytocin.

    Adopted from Simon Sinek’s book Together is Better

  • This is the biggest difference between “finite” & “infinite” minded work environments

    Finite minded work environments are ones where individuals are pitted against each other to meet short term goals and targets.These are places where organizational politics exist due to people fighting against each other.

    On the other hand in infinite minded work environments , people have a sense of purpose and are constantly looking to outplace themselves by the day without focusing on competition.This is why these teams end up being high performance teams..

    Adopted from Simon Sinek’s book Together is Better

  • Great Leaders exhibit this “child like inquisitiveness”

    Great Leaders are the best students and are never complacent thinking themselves as MASTERS who no longer need to learn.

    The following great leadership quote from Simon Sinek sums it up all:

    “Leadership is an eductation.

    And the BEST LEADERS think of themselves as STUDENTS , NOT the teachers.”

    Adopted from Simon Sinek’s book Together is Better

  • How to tactfully apply motivational principles to encourage both “Left & “Right brain” work?

    For left brain , dreary , routine bound work ideally Carrot and Stick based motivation has been historically used to drive results..

    IF-THEN awards for giving the necessary behavior and punishment by prohibiting non compliance has been very successful in the age of industrial revolution.

    Now that we know that in the modern age of creativity and innovation , “Right Brain” work needs to be stimulated by means of intrinsic motivational techniques.The primary focus of such a technique is autonomy , mastery and a sense of purpose.

    Daniel Pink in his book Drive has gone a step further and mentioned that Motivation 3.0 can be applied to routine bound work as well by being transparent about the kind of work , the end goal that is desired and preferably shifting from IF-THEN to NOW-THAT rewards with sufficient in person praise and feedback.

  • What is the driver behind creating “B corporations”?

    B Corporation is a designation that requires companies to amend their bylaws so that the incentives favor long term value and social impact instead of short term economic gain.

    The creation of such a corporation bears ample testimony to the fact that modern day human beings are driven by intrinsic motivation rather than extrinsic short term rewards.

    Daniel Pink makes a  mention of the same in his book Drive

    For more details on B Corporation please refer to the following link from Wikipedia..

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benefit_corporation

  • How to offer praise to trigger intrinsic motivation?

    The following 4 ways mentioned by Daniel Pink in his book Drive explain us how to offer praise in order to ensure that intrinsic motivation based behavior is triggered to encourage creativity and innovation at workplaces:

    1. Praise EFFORT , STRATEGY and NOT INTELLIGENCE
    2. Make PRAISE SPECIFIC
    3. PRAISE in PRIVATE
    4. Offer PRAISE only when there is a GOOD REASON for it

    Adopted from Daniel Pink’s book Drive

  • What does Atlassian mean by having a FedEx day?

    The software company Atlassian injects a BURST of AUTONOMY into its workplace by setting aside a day each quarter when employees can work on any project they choose , however they want with whomever they like.

    This is a masterclass in explaining how intrinsic motivation can help encourage innovation and creativity in modern day workplaces.

    This concept can be extended to schools as well as explained by Daniel Pink in his book Drive

  • Three Part “Type I” test applied to Homework

    This test essentially asks the following three questions that each teacher should ask oneself to ensure they are effectively nurturing the creative buds in students:

    1. Am I offering students the AUTONOMY over how and when they do the homework?
    2. Does the assignment promote MASTERY by offering a novel and engaging task?
    3. Do the students understand the PURPOSE of the ASSIGNMENT?

    Adopted from Daniel Pink’s book Drive

  • The DNA of a “intrinsically motivated” approach

    The key ingredients of a Type I driven intrinsically motivated approach to stimulate creativity and innovation in the modern day of the knowledge worker are as follows:

    1. Create an environment that makes people feel good about participating
    2. Give users requisite autonomy
    3. Keep the system as open as possible

    Adopted from Daniel Pink’s book Drive

  • What is meant by 20% of time on Training Wheels?

    By Twenty percent of time on Training Wheels , Daniel Pink in his book Drive means that companies like Google , Atlassian in the modern age of innovation and creativity encourage their employees to devote 20% of their total time to do something of their own in order to create a shippable product.

    This is the result because of which Google gave birth to Gmail and Google News and is regarded as a pre-requisite in the modern age of Motivation 3.0 where autonomy is a key ingredient to nurture mastery in modern day knowledge workers.

    Adopted from Daniel Pink’s book Drive