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.
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I never worry about action, but only inaction.
Act the part and you will become the part.
If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.
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