The majority of individuals think that using financial incentives—the so-called carrot-and-stick method—is the most effective way to inspire. Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Motivating Others, argues that’s a mistake.
He claims in this thought-provoking and compelling new book that the fundamental human drive to take charge of our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to perform better for ourselves and the world around us is the key to great performance and satisfaction—at work, school, and home.
Pink highlights the discrepancy between what science and business know about human motivation, drawing on forty years of scientific research on the subject. This discrepancy has an impact on many facets of life.
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About the Author
One of Daniel H. Pink’s seven best-selling books in the New York Times is THE POWER OF REGRET: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. His works have received several accolades, been translated into 42 languages, and sold millions of copies worldwide. He resides in Washington, DC, with his family.
Review
I consider certain novels to be “game changers”. Malcolm Gladwell’s “Tipping Point”, “Blink”, and “Outliers” are all included in this category. “The Medici Effect” by Frans Johansson inspired me to plan two leadership events: Intersection 2.0 and The White Rhino Intersection.
Drive”, Daniel Pink’s most recent work, falls under this heading. I really like Gladwell’s statement that “I spent as much time thinking about what this book means as I did reading it” in reference to Pink’s book. You’re right; I’ve received the same reaction. Pink is familiar to readers of The White Rhino Report. I wrote a lot about his last book, “A Whole New Mind”.
Recently, I provided a link to a TED lecture that highlights the key ideas of “Drive. I pondered if I really needed to read the book after being captivated and fascinated by the “Drive” video. I’m happy I decided to go the extra mile. The book has the essential nutrients, but the movie is a great introduction and appetiser.
Pink’s brilliance is in his ability to take previously published research from a range of fields, organise and synthesise the data, and then communicate the results to a general audience without “dumbing down” the findings’ importance or meaning. With his “what”, he transforms it into a powerful “so what?
When talking about what drives people and groups in practically any situation, Pink distinguishes between two kinds of motivation: intrinsic (Type I) and extrinsic (Type X). A resource that is renewable is type I behaviour. Consider Type I behaviour to be the sun and Type X behaviour to be coal.
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Coal has been the most affordable, convenient, and effective resource for most of recent history. However, coal has two drawbacks. First, it creates harmful substances like greenhouse gases and air pollution. Second, it’s limited; obtaining more of it gets more costly and challenging every year. The behaviour of Type X is comparable.
An concentration on incentives and penalties leads to externalities of its own. And ‘if-then’ incentives are continuously getting more costly. However, Type I behaviour uses resources that are readily refilled and cause minimal harm because it is based on intrinsic drive. Because it is affordable, safe to use, and infinitely renewable, it is the motivating equal of clean energy. (Page 80)
He continues by outlining the fundamental causes and driving forces of Type I conduct. He offers what is essentially a transformation manifesto. Autonomy, mastery, and purpose are the three main components that determine Type I conduct. Behaviour of type I is self-directed.
It is committed to continuously improving at something important, and it links that pursuit of greatness to a more significant goal. Although the science supports these ideas, some may reject them as romantic and unrealistic.
This kind of behaviour is fundamental to being human, according to research, and it is now necessary for any form of success—personal, professional, and organizational—in a quickly evolving economy. Thus, we have one option. We can hold onto an understanding of human drive that is based more on customs than on contemporary research.
We may also take the findings into consideration, bring our personal and professional habits into the twenty-first century, and create a new operating system to make our lives, our businesses, and the world a little more efficient. It won’t be simple. It won’t occur right away. Let’s begin, then. (Pages 80–81)
The author outlines four facets of autonomy as he proceeds to outline the elements of what he refers to as Motivation 3.0, a significant quantum leap beyond the conventional Motivation 2.0 that propelled the Industrial Revolution.
And some forward-thinking companies are finding that one of these key components is autonomy, specifically autonomy over the four facets of work: what individuals do, when they do it, how they do it, and with whom they do it.
When individuals have control over the four T’s—their task, their time, their technique, and their team—Type I behavior manifests, as demonstrated by Atlassian’s experience. (Pages 93–94) In addressing the significance of “Purpose” as a motivating element, Pink’s work closely resembles the topics covered in Bob Buford’s book
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Half Time – Moving from Success to Significance,” which I reviewed here a few months ago: Similar topics may be found in Rick Warren’s best-selling book, “The Purpose Driven Life.” My group, the Baby Boomers, is a demographic time bomb that poses an intriguing conundrum and opportunity due to our expected longer lifespan.
Sixty-year-old boomers look back twenty-five years, to when they were thirty-five, and a startling idea clonks them on the side of the head when they realize they may have another twenty-five years. “Wow.
Wow, that went by quickly,” they exclaim. Will the next 25 years go past in that manner? If yes, when will I take a meaningful action? When will I be living my best life? When will I get the opportunity to change the world?
Those enquiries may sound sentimental, yet they are recurrent in discussions around boomer kitchen tables all across the world. However, they are currently happening at a pace never seen in human history.
Think about this: In the majority of western nations, as well as in nations like Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, the greatest demographic cohort is the baby boomer generation. Every thirteen minutes, one hundred baby boomers in America alone reach their 60th birthday.
The globe will witness a never-before-seen storm of purpose as the cold front of demographics collides with the warm front of unfulfilled desires. (Pages 132–133). The impression, in my opinion, is much more striking than Pink portrays.
Men and women are starting to ask the “purpose question” at younger ages, according to my work as a career coach, life coach, recruiter, and mentor to several up-and-coming leaders. This is encouraging for our future and will compel businesses to deal with this problem if they want to thrive and draw and keep great personnel.
There is more to the purpose dynamic. Type X high achievers, the traditional “Type A” personalities, put in more and more hours to succeed materially and advance in their careers when they are not working for a greater cause. Burnout and discontent are the outcomes.
The high achievers’ poor relationships are one of the causes of their worry and despair. There is less space in their life for love, care, empathy, and the things that really matter because they are too busy earning money and taking care of themselves.” (Page 144)
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Summary
In this one-of-a-kind book, he explores the three components of genuine motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—and provides clever and unexpected methods for implementing them. It will alter our way of thinking and living. Despite the subject matter, the book is easy to read. It utilizes new research effectively. However, the book is also quite useful.
At the book’s conclusion, Pink offers a toolset. In it, he offers methods to help people, parents, teachers, and companies become more motivated. In order to support and foster a positive atmosphere for independence, mastery, and purpose, he offers a fantastic reading list of 15 novels. Additionally, he offers a discussion guide to help initiate the conversation.
This book is fantastic and will work for both followers and leaders. This will inspire people you lead and perhaps help you better understand yourself, whether you are a businessperson, small group leader, or pastor.