Motivating Knowledge Workers
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Transcript of Motivating Knowledge Workers
Motivating knowledge workers
Jane Prusakova
Brazos PMI Chapter
March 2015
Think for a living
Knowledge workers are workers whose
main capital is knowledge.
Examples: managers, software
engineers, doctors, architects, engineers,
scientists, accountants, lawyers,
and academics
- HBS Press
Origins of motivation
• Everyone is motivated to do <some activity>
• Self-selection
– “Knowledge capital” takes hard work to acquire
Self Determination Theory by Edward L. Deci & Richard M. Ryan, 2000
Money
• Uncorrelated
• Short-term motivator
• Long-term de-motivator
Money makes
the world go
around
Motivation: what works?
• Autonomy
• Mastery
• Purpose
Knowledge work
• Work is fun
• People are
motivated to do
well
• Hard work is not
rare
Work by Edward L. Deci at the University of Rochester in 1970s
• What motivates you at work?
– For yourself
– Someone you know well
Motivators
Purpose
• Make the world a better place
Milton Friedman vs Peter Drucker debate in 1970s on the purpose of a corporation.
Personal
• A way to relate
• If < hard work > then < >
• Surprise! Occasional < >
Rewards
“Drive” by Daniel Pink
If - Then
• Algorithmic work
– Cold calls
– Filling out paperwork
• Thinking or creative work
– Customer engagement
– Designing solutions
D. Ariely, U. Gneezy, et al. “Incentives lead to worse performance”
Surprise! reward
• A reward for work well-done
• Reward behavior, not the outcome
• Be authentic
Surprise!
• A surprise reward
– Gave it or got it?
– How did it feel?
– How long did you remember it, talked about it,
smiled about it?
Slack time
• Free
• Relationship-building
• Reflect and feel good
• Learning
Power Over Process
• Ask for advice
• Implement
• Provide feedback
Motivators
Punished!
De-motivators
• Coercion
• Continuous oversight
• Zero-sum rewards
• If-then rewards
Minds
• Feedback
• Slack time
• Autonomy
• Blame
• Busyness
• Oversight
Hearts
• Genuine buy-in
• Power over process
• Surprise! rewards
• Coercion
• Micromanagement
• If-then rewards
Inspire Passionate Performance
• Purpose
• Autonomy
• Mastery
• Appreciation
Motivating knowledge workers
Jane Prusakova
Brazos PMI Chapter
March 2015