What actually drives effort.
WHAT DOES NOT SUSTAIN MOTIVATION
Money alone, beyond a point Fear Slogans Incentives for things people cannot control
WHAT GENERALLY DOES
Work that feels meaningful Autonomy over how it is done Getting better at something Being treated fairly Working with people they respect
WHY PAY STILL MATTERS
Unfair or inadequate pay actively demotivates, even though generous pay does not sustain motivation.
WHAT THAT IMPLIES
Pay people properly, then rely on the other factors.
WHAT DESTROYS MOTIVATION FASTEST
Pointless work Work that is discarded Being overruled without explanation Unfairness Broken commitments
WHY DISCARDED WORK IS SO DAMAGING
Effort that produced nothing is demoralising in a way failure is not.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
Stop work early when direction changes, and explain why.
WHAT AUTONOMY REQUIRES
Clear outcomes and freedom over method.
WHAT TO AVOID
Specifying how
WHY
It removes ownership and it wastes their judgement.
WHAT TO ASK PEOPLE
What part of the work they enjoy most.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE ANSWER
Give them more of it, where you can.
WHAT TO NOTICE
Someone who has stopped raising ideas.
WHAT THAT USUALLY INDICATES
They concluded it makes no difference.
WHAT TO DO
Find out why, and address it.
