“What DRIVES you?” – This book author unleashes the secrets of motivation for a thriving workforce! [Friday: Mindfulness by Miles]
Miles Everson’s The Business Builder Daily speaks to the heart of what great marketers, business leaders, and other professionals need to succeed in advertising, communications, managing their investments, career strategy, and more.
A Note from Miles Everson:
Happy Friday!
We’re excited to share the topic for today’s “Mindfulness by Miles!”
Every Friday, we talk about health and mindfulness. Our hope is that these insights will encourage you to enhance the physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects of your life.
Today, we’ll feature an interesting and insightful book.
Keep reading to know this book author’s perspectives on human motivation, especially the things that inspire people in the workplace.
Miles Everson
CEO, MBO Partners
Chairman of the Advisory Board, The I Institute
Mindfulness by Miles
In a world where workplace satisfaction and productivity are crucial for success, understanding what truly motivates each worker is paramount. According to the Job Characteristics Theory, motivation and job satisfaction are interrelated and mutually reinforcing.
These two have positive effects on both the individual and organizational level. On the individual level, motivated and satisfied employees tend to have higher levels of performance, productivity, creativity, and innovation. They also tend to have lower levels of absenteeism, turnover, stress, and burnout.
On the organizational level, motivation and job satisfaction contribute to a company having a stronger competitive advantage, better reputation, higher customer satisfaction, and lower turnover cost.
Clearly, these points show that these two factors are extremely important in the workplace.
… but have you ever thought about what truly motivates a person?
In this article, we’ll answer that question through the perspective of this bestselling author:
Daniel H. Pink!
Photo from MasterClass
Pink is an American author who has written some of The New York Times bestsellers. He was a co-host and co-executive producer of the National Geographic Channel social science TV series, “Crowd Control.” Additionally, from 1995 to 1997, he was the chief speechwriter for former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.
Pink’s books have been selected as common reads for first-year students at George Washington University, Butler University, Texas State University, and other colleges.
What’s more?
In 2008, Oprah Winfrey gifted copies of Pink’s book, “A Whole New Mind,” to 4,500 graduates of Stanford University when she gave the school’s commencement address.
Pink’s other books include:
- Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself
- The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need
- To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others
- When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing
- The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward
Today, let’s focus on one of his books titled…
“Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.”
Photo from Amazon
Published in 2009, “Drive” is a non-fiction book that discusses how human motivation is largely intrinsic. Here, Pink unveils a groundbreaking perspective, shattering age-old beliefs and presenting an illuminating paradigm shift.
Through an exploration of autonomy, mastery, and purpose, Pink challenges the traditional carrot-and-stick approach to motivation, offering a refreshing insight into how businesses and individuals can unlock their fullest potential.
The Myth of External Rewards
For decades, businesses have been convinced that dangling external rewards like bonuses, promotions, and raises would be the magic key to unlocking employees’ motivation.
While all these are still important, Pink brings attention to a startling revelation: Extrinsic motivators can backfire and hinder genuine drive. In fact, they may even diminish workers’ creativity and engagement. Instead of creating a thriving workforce, a disproportionate focus on external rewards can lead to a cycle of diminishing returns and unfulfilled potential.
So, what are Pink’s solutions to harness TRUE motivation and satisfaction in the workplace?
- Embracing Autonomy
At the heart of Pink’s book lies the concept of AUTONOMY, or the need for individuals to be in control of their own destinies. Pink argues that when people are empowered to make decisions and take ownership of their work, their motivation soars.
This means by providing employees with the freedom to shape their roles and work environment, leaders can harness a powerful source of intrinsic motivation that drives not just results but also innovation and fulfillment.
- The Power of Mastery
Pink also delves into the human desire for MASTERY, or people’s yearning to improve and develop their skills continually. This innate drive for growth and learning goes beyond financial rewards. Employees thrive in environments that encourage development and opportunities for honing their expertise.
According to Pink, organizations that prioritize skills development foster a culture of excellence. Here, individuals feel valued and inspired to achieve greatness.
- Finding Purpose in Work
The most profound aspect of motivation explored in “Drive” is the concept of purpose. Here, Pink states that connecting work to a greater cause or contributing to a meaningful mission fuels intrinsic motivation.
This means when employees feel their work serves a purpose beyond merely earning a paycheck, they become more engaged and enthusiastic, thereby fostering loyalty and dedication to their organization.
The Implications for Businesses
As someone who has been in the business and consulting industry for 30+ years, MBO Partners’ CEO Miles Everson truly finds the insights of Pink’s book helpful and interesting. He believes leaders and managers should apply the principles of “Drive” in their strategies, allowing for transformative shifts in the workplace.
Everson is also BIG in creating a work culture that values autonomy, mastery, and purpose. For him, hierarchical structures that stifle innovation must give way to a more collaborative and flexible environment, where employees are encouraged to contribute their unique strengths.
This is truly a game-changer!
According to Everson, companies that prioritize employee motivation experience a host of benefits, including reduced turnover, increased creativity, and higher job satisfaction. In a world where talent is a prized commodity, understanding intrinsic motivation is essential in attracting and retaining top talents.
We hope you enjoyed reading what Pink’s book is all about!
The book invites you to reimagine your workplaces and foster a culture that prioritizes employee satisfaction, growth, and purpose-driven work. As you embrace this new perspective on motivation, you will not only transform the lives of your employees but also fuel innovation and achieve unparalleled success for your organization.
We encourage you to read this book during your free time, too!
Have a great Friday!
(This article is from The Business Builder Daily, a newsletter by The I Institute in collaboration with MBO Partners.)
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Fridays: Mindfulness by Miles”
High-performance businesses are run by people who think and act differently.
In other words, these are people who are high-performing individuals.
Companies and individuals of this kind have found ways to escape the grind of commoditization and competition by focusing on the RIGHT goals.
High-performing businesses and individuals are also “return driven” businesses and “career driven” individuals. They conscientiously develop unique capabilities and resources that allow them to deliver offerings in ways no other firm or individual can.
Every Friday, we’ll publish tips and insights from MBO Partners and The I Institute’s “Business Builder, The Independent Minds” newsletter.
These will help you gain knowledge on the things that Miles Everson, the CEO of MBO Partners, often talks about regarding the future of the workforce.
We’ll also highlight other mindfulness advice on how you can be a high-performing individual both in your career and personal life.
Hope you’ve found this week’s insight interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Friday’s “Mindfulness by Miles!”
Cheers,
Kyle Yu
Head of Marketing
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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