1013: Harnessing the Six Motives that Shape Culture with Neel Doshi
Nov 21, 2024
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Neel Doshi, co-founder of Vega Factor and co-author of 'Primed to Perform,' dives deep into the science of total motivation. He breaks down the six key motives that shape corporate culture and discusses how certain metrics can either foster or hinder motivation. Neel unveils the importance of focusing on positive motives like play and purpose while addressing the pitfalls of economic and emotional pressures. Additionally, he offers insights on how strong team cultures and genuine engagement can drive performance and sustainability in the workplace.
Understanding the six primary motives—play, purpose, potential, emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia—enables organizations to cultivate a high-performing culture.
For organizations to truly enhance workplace motivation, they must utilize metrics constructively, promoting engagement rather than creating a culture of fear and pressure.
Deep dives
Understanding the Six Motives of Motivation
Motivation in a workplace culture is fundamentally driven by six primary motives: play, purpose, potential, emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia. Play involves engaging in activities for enjoyment, while purpose refers to the belief that one's work has meaningful contributions. Potential relates to the anticipation of future rewards or accomplishments, but emotional and economic pressures can negatively impact motivation. A culture that focuses on maximizing play, purpose, and potential fosters high performance, while emphasizing the latter three types of pressure often results in poor outcomes.
The Misuse of Metrics in Organizations
Metrics are essential for performance measurement, but their misuse can lead to a culture of pressure rather than one of motivation. When metrics are weaponized against employees, it fosters an environment where individuals feel attacked or judged based on their performance rather than motivated to improve. Instead of using metrics as tools to create alignment and engagement, many organizations deploy them in ways that induce stress and fear among staff. The key is to utilize metrics constructively, allowing them to enhance the experience without imposing undue pressure on employees.
Transforming Work Culture Through Play and Purpose
Organizations looking to improve performance can benefit from creating spaces for play and purpose, which can lead to significant transformations in workplace culture. One case highlighted involves a retail bank that eliminated high-pressure environments and instead encouraged employees to solve interesting problems collaboratively. This shift led to increased idea generation and a greater sense of ownership among employees, ultimately improving productivity and customer satisfaction. By fostering an atmosphere of playful problem-solving, teams become more engaged, and their performance naturally improves without the burdens of pressure systems.
Calculating and Measuring Total Motivation
The concept of Total Motivation encompasses the positive and negative factors that affect an individual's motivation at work. It can be calculated based on the levels of play, purpose, and potential felt by employees, while also accounting for emotional and economic pressures. Rather than relying solely on conventional performance measurements, organizations should prioritize measuring motivation to identify areas for improvement. By implementing regular health checks and focusing discussions around motivation, teams can create actionable strategies that enhance their working environment and improve overall performance.
Neel is the co-founder of Vega Factor and co-author of bestselling book, Primed to Perform: How to Build the Highest Performing Cultures Through the Science of Total Motivation. Previously, Neel was a Partner at McKinsey & Company, CTO and founding member of an award-winning tech startup, and employee of several mega-institutions. He studied engineering at MIT and received his MBA from Wharton. In his spare time, he’s an avid yet mediocre woodworker and photographer.