- Intrinsic Motivation vs. Carrot and Stick : Leo emphasizes that intrinsic motivation is key for employees' optimal performance rather than simply using rewards (carrots) or penalties (sticks). Treating employees like robots chasing incentives can diminish their natural enjoyment and creativity.
- Counterintuitive Effects of External Rewards : Studies show that extrinsic rewards can reduce the performance and enjoyment of an activity. Leo cites an experiment with children drawing where those paid performed less creatively than those who drew for intrinsic pleasure.
- The Power of Inspiration : Leo advises leaders to inspire their employees by aligning work with a compelling mission. Employees perform at their best when they are driven by a vision and understand the higher purpose behind their tasks.
- Appealing to Employees' Higher Values : Connecting the work to employees' higher values such as beauty, excellence, and kindness can provide intrinsic motivation and enhance their performance.
- Creating a Vision for the Product : Convincing employees to believe in the company's mission and the importance of the product or service can significantly boost motivation, especially when the product contributes positively to humanity.
- Demonstrating Impact of Work : Sharing positive customer feedback and demonstrating how individual tasks fit into the larger company mission helps employees see the value and impact of their work, fostering engagement.
- Team Cohesion : Building a cohesive team involves listening to employee concerns, offering training, and treating employees as valued human beings, which in turn motivates them through their human desires.
- Alignment with Company Values : Aligning employees with the company's core values is crucial. Employees need to truly buy into these values for the organization to work effectively towards its goals.
- Future Explorations on Motivation : The topic of motivation and team engagement is expansive, with aspects like team cohesion and company values playing critical roles. Leo suggests creating more content to delve deeper into these facets on actualized.org.