The surprising truth about what motivates us

The below attached RAS Animate was forwarded to us from a business consultant we use periodicaly to get us out of trouble and get us focused again. I believe and agree with the findings of the lecture. The video talks about what motivates and list 3 factors that lead to better performace & personal satisfaction....

• Autonomy, the desire to be self directed
• Mastery, the urge to get better at stuff
• Purpose, Transcendent place to come to work

The video explains it so no sense going through it again here. I would like to think Industrial Revolution is leaning towards these factors however I know it is not there by a long way. Will ask the guys on the floor tomorrow to get some feed back to see where we are. Will update on the weekend coming.

The Surprising Truth about what motivates, from Dan Pink;s talk a the RSA


September 18, 2011 UPDATE TO ORIGNIAL POST


I sent the video to the employees of Industrial Revolution Ltd and the feedback was interesting. Everyone agreed with Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose. They noted they have more of this in a small company like Ind Rev compared to large company like Toyota. Most if not all the guys have worked for companies where you have no autonomy, no purpose, and no incentive for Mastery. They are companies run with an iron fist, dictatorship leadership.

Some of the guys noted the presenter talks fast and draws even faster. For the older guys I don't think they understand the amount of time and editing it would have taken to make that video. However it is very well done.

When it came to the idea of having a 24 hr. period to do anything you wanted, it became evident some restriction would have to be put in place. Everyone said they do not know what they would do. I suspect in the example given in the video people may not have known either until the 24 period started, or more likely if you had more time to think in advance you may be better prepared. After a while talking about it at the shop, when joking around about it, some of the suggestions if they had 24 hrs totally free to do anything;

• Load up all the steel, cooper and aluminum they can and take it to a scrap yard.
• This could be good, and we do ship out a large bin of steel about every 2 months of scrap. However the intent was to take pretty much everything and get some money for it.
•  Make a go cart.
• The idea behind this is some of the guys see the many different parts and projects we get into and they are pretty sure I have enough junk around to make a few go carts.
• Just go to sleep and rest.

So the next step is to set some boundaries, If you are going to use shop supplies a budget of $100 can be spent for the first go round of the free days. I suspect it will take a few of these days before things really get going and running well.

Some of the examples I thought of;

• Organizing tools and repairing tool boxes and work stations to the way the individual likes to work (more self-directed).
• Work on welding skills and play around with the settings of the machine to learn and feel even more confident (mastery).
• Reposition lights or add more lights to make work stations better and more suited to the individual.