During our company retreat earlier this year, we watched Dan Pink’s TED Talk on The Puzzle of Motivation.
Team members unanimously decided that I must have studied the concept espoused by the author and decided to design our business systems around it. But that’s not true. I had no knowledge of Dan Pink’s work until I chanced upon the video while browsing through YouTube the night before our retreat.
In summary, the research shows that contrary to standard business practice, extrinsic motivators (e.g. higher pay, commissions, bonuses etc.) often destroy creativity instead of enhancing it. They are still necessary and could in fact prove useful, but only in a surprisingly narrow band of circumstances.
The secret to high performance is not rewards and punishments, but an intrinsic drive — the drive to do things for their own sake. The drive to do things because they matter. This intrinsic motivation is a composite of three elements.
1. Autonomy: The urge to direct our own lives.
2. Mastery: The desire to get better and better at something that matters.
3. Purpose: The yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves.
In business, it is important to have a clear reward system that people can easily relate with. However, no matter how high the extrinsic motivators are, the results will decline at some point. It is intrinsic motivation that enables us to go the distance and sustain a culture of high performance.
We can enhance intrinsic motivation by designing our work and business systems to encourage autonomy, mastery and purpose. [Click to tweet]
The specifics will vary for every organisation and in each context. But if we take time to think through the situation and request feedback from the people we’re working with, we will begin to find ways to implement a system that enhances intrinsic motivation.
Let me give a few examples from The Plenipotent Company which may be adapted in other contexts.
1. Flexible work arrangement
By creating a system where people can work from anywhere, at any time and in a manner that suits their personality/lifestyle while adhering to quality standards, we are giving team members autonomy. They determine how they work and they have control over their time.
Interestingly, we later found out that two American scientists have codified this into a human resources management strategy known as ROWE — Results Only Work Environment. And it is beginning to gain popularity across the world.
At The Plenipotent Company, we had implemented ROWE when we only knew it intuitively. Among other things, this has enabled us to build an organisation where work does not have to get in the way of life, but actually enhances it.
2. Training and feedback
Team members are provided with training opportunities that help them to build capacity. We also assign tasks and provide feedback at various levels including self-assessment, peer review and one-on-one feedback. This provides opportunities for hands-on experience and continuous improvement both of which culminate in mastery.
3. Adopting the whole person paradigm
We take genuine interest in our people, deliberately helping them to develop their potentials and cultivate the greatness that resides in them. We don’t just cater to their work, we facilitate all-round development.
As a result of this, team members begin to do things that they had not done before and achieve results that had earlier seemed beyond their reach. They understand themselves better and make more meaningful contributions within their immediate environment and the world at large.
Many of our team members have found their voice, established their personal brands, amplified their influence, developed impactful relationships and achieved other goals that give them a sense of purpose.
The approach to enhancing intrinsic motivation will vary across teams and organisations, but the principles remain the same. By adopting the practices, processes and systems that encourage autonomy, mastery and purpose, we will be able to create a culture of high performance instead of relying on the carrot and stick approach.
If you would like to know exactly how we do this and how you can adapt our systems to your own business, initiate a conversation in the comments.
We can also facilitate a training at your organisation if you like the idea but you’re not in a position to implement it or directly influence the decision makers.
Good morning, sir.
I must say, this piece is truly magnificent! Not only does it capture the algorithm The Plenipotent Company has adopted over the years, it also explains the motifs, objectives, goals and intentions of the organization through the internship programme.
I am truly grateful for the chance given to me to be a part of this initiative. Through this exposé, I have been able to understand the orthodox methods of gratification and rewarding employees are grossly impractical- this ultimately led to the adoption of an entirely different scheme, consisting three intrinsic drives; autonomy, mastery and purpose. Prior to my acceptance into the internship programme, I yearned for experience and professional actualization. At the mention of factors like; flexibility, apprenticeship and progressiveness, I literally fell head over heels for the well packaged programme.
This piece made me understand that The Plenipotent Company and its stakeholders are flexible with their system. They can adopt new systems that will propel the company and its members further. The company’s system is dynamic. I appreciate this.
Thank you so much, Mr Philip Amiola, for this exposé.
It was more than educative, it was interesting.
Adeyeye Oluwagbenga Michael.
I must say I never knew of extrinsic and intrinsic motivators until this moment. I am just now realizing that autonomy, mastery and purpose are better driving forces than the financial gain I always assumed. Thank you Mr Philip.
Very nice write up, truly valuable content
I must say I never knew of extrinsic and intrinsic motivators until this moment. I am just now realizing that autonomy, mastery and purpose are better driving forces than the financial gain I always assumed. Thank you Mr Philip.
Evergreen
This piece was indeed an eye opener and an establishment for the things I probably knew but never took into consideration. I must say that the words written here is indeed value! Thank you sir.
I just started the training and going through “Practical ideas on building a motivated workforce” , l think l’m at the right place because l do think a working environment should be place where one will become better fashion of his/her gift and skills daily.
Good morning, sir.
Thank you so much for sharing this master piece with us. it’s educative and interesting. so much lessons to learn here.
Just as Mr. Adeyeye said, this piece do not only capture the algorithm the company has adopted over the years, it also explains the motifs, objectives, goals and intentions of the organization.
This piece is well-curated and presented in a way that is easy to understand and implement. This exposure has given me an insights on things I need to start doing and further clarity on things I’ve been doing before. This piece has also expose me to the Intrinsic motivation (Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose) and how important business, entrepreneur and stakeholders should implement this.
I strongly recommend the Result Only Work Environment(R.O.W.E) strategy for most company to implement cos the world is going digital now, and most people especially the youth would prefer a company with a flexible work arrangement.
Thank you so much, Mr. Philip Amiola for this, it’s truly a wonderful piece!
I am most grateful sir.
Victoria Olusesi.
Working remotely has gained much ground since COVID-19 outbreak but not without its own back side…
In an environment where there is no flexibility, continuous learning, I don’t think that organization would thrive.
Thank you Mr. Philip for this piece of information.
Well, I must say learning from this introductory course of the Plenipotent Company made being online so easy.
I might have some challenges but I believe I would get through that and be part of Plenipotent soon.
Mr.philipamiloa, you are an asset!!
This is a whole lot
Thank you a lot Sir
I must say, this is not only eye opening but a very detailed and informative article. I was only familiar with the “carrot and stick” approach for a long time until I came across this educative piece. While rewards and compensation can be important, fulfilling the inner satisfaction of the team members is more important. Having a flexible working arrangement while achieving growth in one’s place of work is very fulfilling and serves a huge motivation factor to do better. Thank you for the wonderful piece
I love the fact that the traning gives everyone their freedom to access it at their own pace , Plenipotent company stood out because of this particular strategy and objective for training… Being able to carry everyone along putting in mind the environment,the resources and time is what a good internship should look like !
Thanks you so much at Plenipotent company I have learnt a lot already
Thank you for this wonderful piece !
Thanks for bringing ROWE out to many like me ,
I will sure do further reading,
I have great interest for HR practices because I believe greatly that Humans are any organization greatest resources.
Thank you for both teaching and practicing this.
Honestly, I am so thankful to almighty God for given me this privilege to be part of this program, in which i believe by the grace of God, my goals and my dreams will be achieved.
Going through this article, I really gain some understanding which I cannot use money to buy. The three motivation which are autonomy, purpose, and mastery are very vital. It’s not just to motivate staffs with things that will affect staffs negatively but to motivate them beyond that
I pray that nothing unnecessary will stop me from finishing this internship. And I must be a valuable and useful virtual to myself and others. Amen.
Thank you very much Mr Amiola Philip sir. God continue to bless you in Jesus mighty name amen 🙏
This is really eye-opening and such an effective model. This is the kind of opportunity, environment, and mindset I have been looking for. I am very eager to be part of this project and establishment and really hope that in the end, I will be among the very few to be selected.
Thank you for this great piece. I wish that all companies can see this and imbibe the practical lessons therein.
This is a great write up that many companies needs to take the value into consideration cause it’s very useful.