Daniel Pink is the man sparking a revolution for a new right brained future. He is also the philosopher on the motive of what drives us and our performance based on that. Look at Bill Gates, how is it that he created a multi-billion company, Microsoft, with no rewards or other incentives? How is it that Albert Einstein found out E=MC² with no professors offering him money and awards for finding the equation for energy? Why was it that I didn’t feel as stressed out when reading the newspapers on my own then when I was assigned to read the newspaper? Daniel Pink describes it as our drive and performance associated with it, how less rewards may often mean a better performance when dealing with creativity and rudimentary cognitive skill.
“…Here’s what he (Sam Glucksburg) did. He gathered his participants and he said, ‘I’m going to time you. How quickly can you solve this problem (The candle problem, which is a problem based on finding a solution to putting a candle on the wall and lighting it without it dripping wax on the table)?’ To one group he said, ‘I’m going to time you to establish norms averages for how long it typically takes someone to solve this sort of problem.’ To the second group he offered rewards, he said, “If you’re in the top 25% of the fastest times, you get five dollars. If you’re the fastest of everyone we’re testing here today you get 20 dollars. Now this is several years ago. Adjusted for inflation. It’s a decent sum of money for a few minutes work. It’s a nice motivator. Question: How much faster did this group solve the problem? Answer: It took them, on average, three and a half minute longer.” Daniel Pink stated this example to show how our motivation do to better when we have to think is not traditional rewards. The second team which was offered 20 dollars, which I consider a lot, did worse when offered with a reward. Why is that? He says incentives dull thinking and block creativity. The reason for that is it narrows our focus and concentrates our mind on reaching that purpose so that we could get the money. We can’t think on the creativity, how to solve the problem, when there is a big weight of cash sitting in your mind. The motivation to do well has nothing to do with big rewards. It has to do with self-motivation, purpose, master, because we like it.
It true, it applies to what motivates me. I like to draw, and I get better because I want to get better. In countries around the world you see volunteers expertly helping out those in need because they put their whole mind into it. They don’t feel obliged to help, but do it out of their own hearts. In Daniel Pink’s book, Drive, the second chapter gives the example of Tom Sawyer. Tom doesn’t like to work, but using his quick smarts, he makes the other kids think painting the face is play and they do it for him. It describes how a boy wont do a job of he is forced to do it, but will do it if he wants too.
Daniel Pink really was effective on his TED when instead of telling a story, he made a case with the prosecution and even the evidence, law school must’ve paid off for him because he was so persuasive. He certainly got my verdict. High-rewards are guilty of making people have poorer performances.
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