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
My Dad’s Advice & “The Question”
As I was growing up, my dad would often repeat a phrase to my brothers and I: “You will be the same person in 10 years except for the books you read and the people you meet”. He was implying that we should take every opportunity to engage in new relationships and learn from other people’s experiences.
My dad’s advice was from the perspective of someone whose formal education ended in grade six, as a result of the responsibilities he had to assume when his dad died. His conversations with me when I was 12 led me to taking a paper route when the opportunity presented itself. A year later his encouragement played a role in my decision to scout landscaping and snow-plowing with the tractor he bought. My dad’s advice was always present; but I could have never guessed the result of his wisdom.
Change comes gradually and, like walking for a long time up a slight incline, one doesn’t always realize that they are working towards ever more interesting heights and the resultant views and vistas. It is like a journey on a hiking trail that is 90% in the forest, where one only rarely encounters a clearing through which one can observe a ‘bigger picture’ view.
Periodically, my mind makes the oddest leaps. As I drove back from visiting my dad in Salmon Arm a few weeks ago, I was reminded of a question that my business coach, Katrina, gave me to think about during Coral’s and my adventure on Kilimanjaro: “Howard – what do you really want?”
There was no further clarification provided, the interpretation of the question was mine and mine alone – whether I wanted to consider it personally, professionally, or otherwise. The objective, I assumed, was to bring further focus and purpose to my day-to-day actions.
Suffice it to say, in the days following that question being posed, my mind combed through a ton of responses and settled on two words that define what drives me, inspires me, excites me, and brings me enormous personal satisfaction: “Unique Experiences”
The connection happened when I considered the enormous value I received from my various unique experiences. Unique experiences have produced more personal satisfaction for me than anything else. I consider the events in my life that have been unique compared to what I might have normally done or dreamed possible earlier:
- Canoeing the Bowron Lakes with Michael when he was 15…
- Going to the Chicago PDA conference with Rick…
- Going to an Edmonton Oiler’s game with Chad and watching his wonderful bargaining with the scalpers…
- The Okanagan 100 km Century Ride with Jordan…
- Snow shoeing for the first time with Kelsey, Karsten and Kyler…
Looking back, I’m struck with a profound realization that all these things, and a thousand others like them, have given me enormous personal satisfaction and a sense of progress through life that ‘doing the same stuff I did yesterday’ would not have.
I think about perhaps owning an old Mack truck; or cutting down a large tree with my grandchildren and borrowing a little portable sawmill to cut the boards that we will use to build a tree house and swing frame. Stuff like that. Climb Mount Baker or Robson. Travel and live out of a backpack and nothing more for 30 days. Write a short book. Learn to ride a unicycle. Go rock-climbing.
I am enormously appreciative to my dad, my wife Coral Dawn, and seven children and a host of friends, family, and acquaintances who have encouraged and challenged me through wonderful conversation, inspiring me to move forward with optimism towards the adventures and experiences that create a reach that just might exceed my grasp. Running from nothing, but running nonetheless. Running… to embrace progress through the unique experiences that lie ahead.
To all who have been part of my journey – a heart-felt thank you! I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Katrina – here’s to say ‘thank you for asking the question’.
A Guide to Twitter for Techno-Peasants
My friend, Frank Ogden, also known as Dr. Tomorrow, used to call people like me “techno peasants”. After apprehensively putting fingers-to-keyboard to register @HowardKettner on Twitter, I’ve been privileged to be a part of much bigger things – helping the team launch several other Twitter streams in direct response to the interests of the community of stakeholders that GroupHEALTH enjoys.
We’ve launched @GroupHEALTHNews, @BenefitsWorld, @CanadianBIG, and @TruckerBenefits – with plans in the works for one or two more streams that will enable us to better serve our constituents.
All the while, however, I’ve felt like the ‘boat anchor’ for the team – barely staying useful, and only doing so thanks to the coaching and encouragement of my several children – who on any given day demonstrate more tech savvy than I do in a year.
If you can relate – then let me recommend a valuable resource that I recently came across while reading Canada’s own “Today’s Trucking” publication:
“What a Little Birdie Can Tell You” by Marco Beghetto, is the finest social media primer around for techno-peasants like me who are interested in finding new ways to benefit from social media . Beyond the excellent article itself, which goes into various ways truckers can benefit by participating in these online communities, it also offers a glossary of terms you’ll need to survive in social media as well as a list of online resources to help you out along the way.
If you feel like you’re in the same boat that I’m describing, click on the link to the article below. Thanks Marco!
Today’s Trucking (pages 20-23): http://todaystrucking.com/mag_archive.cfm?year=2011&date=2011-08-31