Companies, however_x000D_ unintentionally, choke the motivation out of their employees.
Interpretation
Companies can hinder employee motivation through their actions and policies, even without intending to.
In this quote, Dan Ariely highlights how the structures and environments created by companies can inadvertently suppress the intrinsic motivation of their employees. Despite having good intentions, organizations may implement policies or workplace cultures that diminish enthusiasm and engagement, ultimately leading to a decrease in productivity and job satisfaction.
In practice
In a workshop about improving workplace culture, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of fostering motivation among employees.
To summarize, using money to motivate people can be a double-edged sword. For tasks that require cognitive ability, low to moderate performance-based incentives can help. But when the incentive level is very high, it can command too much attention and thereby distract the personβs mind with thoughts about the reward. This can create stress and ultimately reduce the level of performance.
It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like Homer Simpson than Superman. So from this perspective it is rather depressing. But at the same time there is also a silver lining. There are free lunches!
In a world where everyone is behaving honestly, any dishonesty constitutes a big infraction. But, in a world where many people are behaving dishonestly, and the news is filled with stories of their infractions, even big infractions can feel small to the perpetrator.
Because cheating is easier when we can justify our behavior, people often cheat in small amounts: We can come up with an excuse for stealing Post-It notes, but it is much more difficult to come up with an excuse for taking $10,000 from petty cash.
Disasters are usually a good time to re-examine what we've done so far, what mistakes we've made, and what improvements should come next.
It is very difficult to make really big, important, life-changing decisions because we are all susceptible to a formidable array of decision biases. There are more of them than we realize, and they come to visit us more often than we like to admit.
The ninety and nine are with dreams, content but the hope of the world made new, is the hundredth man who is grimly bent on making those dreams come true.
Failure builds muscle, _x000D_ determination, and dreams.
I played six to 10 hours a day, every day, 90 days during the summer, and I'd do incredible things. I would dribble blindfolded in the house. I would take my basketball to bed with me, I'd lay there after my mother kissed and tucked me in, and I'd shoot the ball up in the air and say, 'Finger tip control, backspin, follow through.
As long as I can compete, I won't quit.
Confidence is a characteristic of a positive attitude. The greatest achievers and leaders remain confident regardless of circumstances.
Be motivated by something beyond simply money or glory.
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