By Daniel Pink
The information in this book is not new. It was published in 2011, and even then it was old news. It just isn't understood or used very well by most of us.
Since the pandemic turned the world upside down, I have heard the lament over and over again that people just aren't motivated. I don't necessarily think that's the case. I think the pandemic just brought to the surface the fact that we can do better when it comes to motivation. It feels to me like now is the time for employers, parents, coaches, and teachers to take a step back and reevaluate what is working and what is not. Anyone who wants to improve their own motivation should do the same.
Many of the concepts in Drive ring true for me in my own life. It seems like there is no better way to undermine my efforts to become healthier than by setting a weight loss goal. Now I know why. I love to read and write about history, and I have long suspected that if I ever reach the point where I get a fancy contract to write a specific book, it won't be fun anymore. I thought this was just some twisted part of my own psyche. Turns out, there is a good explanation. It's not that getting paid for work is a bad thing; it's complicated. The same goes for other types of rewards. The key is understanding how rewards work, and how they affect productivity for different kinds of tasks and for different kinds of people. Using rewards can be great in the right setting, but in some instances, rewards can backfire big time.
I have observed that some people seem happier and more productive at work than others. I firmly believe that work satisfaction and productivity go hand in hand. It could be that those who languish or struggle have a motivation style that isn't a good fit for the job. The good news is, if you discover that your own motivation style is getting in your way, there are things you can do to change it. If you are an employer, parent, or teacher, there are things you can do to encourage a more productive motivation style in those whose happiness and productivity matter to you.
Daniel Pink closes this book with a plethora of resources. One of them is this survey to help you determine your own motivation style. His website has a resource page as well.
If motivation is important in any area of your life-- and you know it is--- I think you might benefit from reading Drive.
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