The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

My viewing of this RSA featuring Daniel Pink talking about “examples of how intrinsic motivation functions both at home and in the workplace” came about as part of an engaging larger assignment during my first quarter participation in the Stagen Integral Leadership Program.   This ‘clip’ of a longer presentation essentially focusses one on the merits of creating an organizational environment in which Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose are nurtured and respected.

I came away with the sense that  the perspectives are well worth the 10 minutes or so of viewing time – recognizing that rather than being an “answer in a box” for all that challenges organizations, this is but one component piece that goes into creating a race-worthy engine.  The best part of this assignment for me was reading the comment posted by others – some of whom predictably stated “brilliant piece of work” and “my day was made better by this bit of inspiration and enlightenment” to those who shared  some realities from their experience, including those  a person purporting to be a software architect and development manager for the past 35 years who pointed out:

-Thirty-five years of seeing this phenomenon over and over would cause me to be inclined to ultimately disagree with the notion that autonomy will make people more productive . . . realistically most people simply do the minimum required to be by.  Incentive, one way or the other makes little difference.”

And, “each one has their own idea of what autonomous means and by simply allowing autonomous development to occur you wind up with pieces that are like ships passing in the night.  When you ask them to follow standards and talk to their co-workers about that it seems to them that they are no longer autonomous.”

Links:

http://comment.rsablogs.org.uk/2010/04/08/rsa-animate-drive/

http://www.danpink.com/about

Un-learning & Re-learning

“The illiterate of the future are not those who cannot read and write, but those that cannot learn, unlearn and re-learn.” Alvin Toffler

Activate Your Power – Eitan Sharir (What I’m Reading: 11-2011)

“Think of the last time that you justified your behavior only to find out at a later stage that you were procrastinating change.  The next step is to be honest with yourself and recognize that what you are justifying now is based on fear and insecurity and the resistance to change.  The final step is to decide whether you are going to continue fooling yourself or, pluck up the courage and do the right thing that will help you move forward.”  Quote from Chapter 3 – Characteristics of the Ego – Justification

“You may have had a great insight, seen opportunity for change, or been excited about your future prospects only to be tripped up by the ego.  Before you knew it, you are experiencing doubt, anxiety, and insecurity.  The little voice of the ego (using your own voice) started to say things like, What are you thinking about? You’re too old for this! Or, You’re too young for this! Or, You don’t have enough money for this! Or, It’s never been done before.  All this doubtful internal chatter happens incredibly fast, and in an instant, your dream, your vision, this potential for something great, has been squashed by the ego.”  Quote from Chapter 3 – How The Ego Operates

HK Comment:  This is one of the most powerful books that I’ve ever read in terms of delivering insights into one’s own soul, motivations, fears and aspirations.  Suffice it to say that I read the first 6 of ten chapters in the first ‘sitting’.

I was initially going to add a glib “if you can take it!” to the first sentence of my comment, but that would not have been fair.  As one turns the pages, because of the skill with which Eitan Sharir wields the tools that elicit the sometimes painful insights, there is truly a sense of relief, healing, empowerment and renewed purpose for the journey ahead.

Value Yourself; Value Your Time

Until you value yourself, you will not value your time.  Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.  Scott Peck, American psychiatrist and author, best known for his first book, The Road Less Travelled, 1978.

Don’t Settle . . .

. . .for being less than you are.  It won’t serve others and it won’t serve you.  Peter Bregman, Author, 18 Minutes 

18 Minutes – Peter Bregman (What I’m Reading: 11-2011)

Quote from the Introduction:  

“Think of 18 Minutes as the FIND ME button for your life.  It will guide you to your most effective self.  It will offer you a clear view of yourself and your surroundings and then provide you with a map to help you get where you want to go.  It’s the app that can help you reclaim your life.”

Page 9:

“Reducing your forward momentum is the first step to freeing yourself from the beliefs, habit, feelings, and busyness that may be limiting you.”

Page 109:

“Each morning, I ask myself some questions: Am I prepared for this day? Prepared to make it a successful, productive day? Have I thought about it? Planned for it? Anticipated the risks that might take me off track? Will my plan for this day keep me focused on what my year is about?

The chapters in this section will guide you to prepare for – and live – each day so you can answer those questions with a resounding “Yes!”

HK Comment: The author provides some terrific insights about the importance of going slow, and even stopping, in order to speed up one’s progress.

What I’m Reading . . .

How often do statements like:

- “I just started reading . . .” or

- “A friend of mine recently recommended the book . . .”

work their way into a conversation.  Most if not all of the books I’ve read recently have been the direct result of recommendations from friends, family, clients, team members, Advisory Board members and others that make regular contributions to the quality of my journey.

I’ve often thought of writing and posting a review of those books that added learning and meaning for me  - but would immediately concede that there are a host of real writers and reviewers that do a far better job of that than I, so . . . what I decided instead is that I will post the titles of the books that I’m reading and extract a few key quotes that delivered an appropriate reminder, unique insight, amusement or –  in some other fashion contributed to the quality and depth of  my experience.

My purpose in sharing the posts is in large part a tool that ensures that as I read, I have a high level of consciousness and awareness of what has value for me, and then to extract that value which manifest itself in the form of welcomed reminders, insights etc.  Joting them in this blog will enable me to readily refer back to those quotables and remind myself of their importance to me at a specific time and place in my journey.  If by chance through the excerpts you get a sense of the content, quality and meaning of the books I read – such as it is, through my lenses, my hope would be that you would find in my posts something that contributes to your sense of purpose, inspiration or otherwise meaningful enjoyment.